Shoosmiths grabs diversity league top spot

The Black Solicitors Network has identified Shoosmiths as the country's most diverse law firm in its 2011 Diversity League Table (DLT).

Shoosmiths achieved the accolade with a DLT score of 898 out of a possible 1,000 points, with Linklaters (which was top of the league table last year) and O'Melveny & Myers following close behind on 812 and 802 respectively. Shoosmiths will be delighted by this evidence of continuing progress in the promotion of diversity in the legal profession, for which the firm was commended at last year's LC.N awards.

As reported in The Lawyer and Legal Week, 44 UK firms took part in the DLT report, which assesses law firms in four different areas of social diversity – ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability.

Sarah Gregory, who is employment partner and diversity chair at regular top-ten DLT entrant Baker & McKenzie, felt that the introduction of a new category will improve the DLT even further, and make Bakers serious contenders for next year's top spot: "It's encouraging to see that this year's Diversity League Table continues to show that the legal profession as a whole is taking diversity more seriously", she said, "however, it is clear that we all still have some way to go. We're looking forward to the inclusion of social mobility in next year's table because this is another area that is a particular challenge for law firms and having hard measurements will help. Baker & McKenzie has participated in the table since its inception in 2006 and we are delighted to be ranked in the Top 10 for the third year running."

Congratulations to Shoosmiths, and to the other DLT entrants demonstrating a serious willingness to make progress on these important issues.