EDI Strategy 2026 – 2028
CRL’s new EDI Strategy sets out their key objectives for the next three years and a continued commitment to fair access for all in the legal services market, including fair and equal access for legal professionals and access to justice for consumers.
The strategy demonstrates CRL’s ongoing commitment to achieving a more equal, diverse and inclusive legal profession, through evidence-based research and building strong partnerships, including collaboration with a wide range of professional bodies and representative organisations. Research projects such as Beyond Buzzwords have further developed our understanding of our regulated community and have helped identify key themes and challenges.
2025 Diversity Data Report
Our 2025 Diversity Data Report is integral to our approach to EDI. Published every two years, our 2025 survey marks the fifth comprehensive CRL diversity data collection. The data continues to indicate that CILEX qualifications offer an opportunity for people from less affluent backgrounds to pursue a legal career.
Looking to the future
Challenges remain across the sector. The Legal Services Board recently consulted on proposals to encourage a diverse legal profession. We look forward to working with them and other regulators on this. We are committed to further expanding our remit and leverage through collaboration across the sector, working in partnership with others to effect lasting change.
Jonathan Rees, Chair of CILEx Regulation said:
Our refreshed EDI strategy continues to focus on improving access to legal services, identifying and addressing the existing barriers faced by those we regulate and ensuring consumers are well served by legal service providers.
We are proud of the diversity of those we regulate. Over the last three years we have made good progress in improving data on their background and careers, researching the obstacles they face and creating pathways for them to progress their careers. But as the recent Mazur judgment showed, there is much more to do to help those who entered the legal profession via the CILEX route advance professionally. We are committed to that goal of fair and equal access, working closely with CILEX, the LSB and other regulators.
EDI is for us not an optional extra but central to our purpose of ensuring high standards of professional competence and enhancing respect for and understanding of CLE qualifications. We remain dedicated to developing our understanding and promoting the careers of chartered legal executives, ultimately providing greater choice and access for consumers.”
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