New report urges gender diversity in law

The ‘Diversify Or Die’ report warns that “firms that do not make the most of their resources by addressing gender diversity risk appearing increasingly out of step with the modern world”.

It adds: “More importantly, they risk being overtaken by competition that embraces diversity and reaps the economic benefits. How a law firm responds to he gender diversity challenge may well affect its very survival.”

Sylvie Watts, who authored the report, said: “As the paper shows, gender diversity matters for business reasons, not political correctness. Faced with challenges from new technology, disruptive competition and demographics, law firms cannot afford to continue to waste their human capital.”

Earlier this month, Scottish Legal News reported that 62 per cent of Diploma in Legal Practice students in Scotland are women, suggesting that women will overtake men in the Scottish legal profession this year.

The Law Society of Scotland previously revealed that 49 per cent of Scotland’s lawyers in 2014 were women.

The Skarbek report concludes: “Law firms that aspire to be of continued relevance to their clients will need to address the challenges of technology, disruptive competition, changing demographics and diversity together.

“Only those that effectively implement a cohesive strategy that exploits the synergies between all four are likely to achieve a sustainable future.”