Resolution Carry Out New Members Diversity Survey

For the first time Resolution have revealed what makes up their members in a new diversity survey.

The report presents a snapshot of the first diversity survey taken by Resolution’s members where over 3,000 of its 6,500 members responded to the survey.

The objectives of undertaking the extensive survey was to monitor its members for diversity and equality. The statistically strong data will help the National and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to develop a strategic diversity action plan going forward for the organisation.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI) examined the data and came up with their own recommendations and targeted actions as to how Resolution could make improvements for the future.

Due to three quarters (75 per cent) of Resolution’s members being made up of solicitors, the data has been set side by side with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) and the Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey to note and examine the similarities and differences.

Key highlights from the survey:

• Resolution members are mostly female with 73 per cent, compared to 27 per cent male. As a comparison the general solicitor workforce makes up 48 per cent female and 52 percent male.
• A fraction under 50 per cent of its members are responsible for looking after children, the elderly or someone with a disability
• 5 per cent responded as saying they had some form of disability whereas there are 12 per cent of workers in UK generally and 3 per cent of solicitors
• Generally, the ethnic background of its members reflects the ethnic background of the UK workforce.
• More than 30 per cent of members had no religious affiliation, while just over half (53 per cent) confirmed they are Christian. Looking at the data of lawyers in the UK, Muslim faith was the least adequately represented in Resolution’s members. The data also found that Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish were underrepresented too.
• Resolution members were found to be older if compared to SRA’s data – with just 20% aged between 25 – 34 compared to 29% of the lawyer population generally.
• The data revealed that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) membership reflected the UK lawyer population too.

Jo O’Sullivan, interim chair of the EDI Committee, said:

“Resolution is working with The Diversity Trust to roll out training to the Resolution staff team, the National Committee, Chairs of all Resolution’s Committees, and the EDI Committee.

“During 2020 the EDI Committee will make recommendations to National Committee based on the survey. With the staff team and external support, we will draw conclusions to help shape a strategy with activities to create as inclusive an organisation and membership as we possibly can.

“To help practitioners working with minority groups, I’m delighted to announce that Resolution is soon to publish Guidance Notes covering disability, modern families, religion and culture.

“The EDI committee will update you all on our work as it progresses. Your thoughts and views have and will continue to shape our work so please do get in touch if you’d like to know more or have any ideas or suggestions.”