Methodology
Tap the Market™ researched the websites of the top 200 law firms * for the inaugural TTM Law Firm Diversity Index.
All information is publicly available on each law firm’s website
TTM Transparency Calculation
The Transparency Calculation is as set out below:
One point is attributed for posting the relevant information on the law firm's website in each of the following categories:
- Dedicated D&I Webpage;
- Disclosed D&I data;
- Disclosed number of UK female partners;
- Disclosed number of UK BAME partners;
- Disclosed percentage of UK LGBT partners;
- A gender pay gap report no more than 2 years old.
A total of six points is available - subject to the comment below:
A gender pay gap report is only legally required to be filed by law firms with more than 250 employees. Law firms with fewer than 250 employees a total of 5 points will be available.
In the event information can only be accessed through a gateway by submitting contact details no points are awarded in that particular category.
Where information appears to be available but due to problems with the website such information is not available a point has not been awarded in the relevant category.
In the cases where a law firm D&I survey with less than 100% response rate by the partner cohort is the basis of either the UK female partners, UK BAME or UK LGBT partners figure this information is not included in the TTM Law Firm Diversity Index - as the data is incomplete and cannot be relied upon.
It is considered reasonable that these figures are directly within the control of the law firm and can be stated with accuracy for the benefit of clients.
The Transparency calculation traffic lights are based on the following:
Law firms with greater than 250 employees:
5-6 points Green
3-4 points Amber
1-2 points Red
Law firms that appear to have less than 250 employees:
4-5 points Green
2-3 points Amber
1 point Red
The TTM Law Firm Diversity Index for UK Female Partners is calculated as below:
A traffic light system based on societal and profession demographics is utilised based on the following information:
According to The Law Society’s Trends in the Solicitors’ Profession Annual Statistics Report 2018 (August 2019) 50.8% of solicitors with practising certificates were female and the number of traineeships in law firms taken up by females has consistently been around 64% for at least the last 10 years.
The recent government Hampton-Alexander Review noted that 33% of FTSE 100 board members are now female.
Taking into account The Law Society’s Trends in the Solicitors’ Profession Annual Statistics Report 2018 statistics and the above Hampton – Alexander Review the starting position for the TTM Law Firm Diversity Index will be:
33%> Green
20% - 32.9% Amber
19.9%< Red
The TTM Law Firm Diversity Index for BAME Partners is calculated as below:
The last government UK census was 2011 in which the UK population ethnicity was estimated as white 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7%.
According to the above referenced Law Society’s Trends in the Solicitors’ Profession Annual Statistics Report 2018 the total number of BAME holders of a practising certificate was 14%.
Taking the above 2 sources into account the starting position for the TTM Law Firm Diversity Index will be:
13%> Green
7% - 12.9% Amber
6.9%< Red
We will continue to work with clients and law firms to ensure this benchmark remains rooted in verifiable demographic information. We will expand the scope of the traffic light system as the Index matures and evolves.
All due care and attention has been given compiling this database. In the event of an accidental error we will very happily work with the law firms to ensure that the information contained in this database accurately reflects the actuals available on the law firm's website. Links at the foot of each law firm page encourages and facilitates this.
We have commenced initially with the top 200 law firms. We encourage other law firms to send us their data and we will include them onto the TTM Law Firm Diversity Index.
July 2020
This Index is compiled from external sources: dedicated D&I webpage, disclosed D&I data, and Gender Pay Gap Report - all links were working at the time of collation, but removal on other sites is beyond our control.
© Tap the Market™ 2020
*As set out by The Lawyer magazine for the year 2018/2019.