Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy 2026-28
Chairs Foreword – Jonathan Rees,
CRL chair (pictured)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the core of all we do as an employer, regulator and partner at CILEx Regulation. We launched our first EDI Strategy in 2022 and have been working hard since then both to understand and address the challenges facing CILEX members and ensure consumers, whatever their background, get the services they need.
The CILEX community is already generally more diverse than other parts of the legal services market. For example, three quarters of Chartered Legal Executives are women, 6% attended a fee-paying school compared to 21% of solicitors, and far fewer come from a professional socio-economic background compared with, say, solicitors. 35% of CILEX members are from a professional socioeconomic background compared to 37% of the UK population and 57% of solicitors.
However, Chartered Legal Executives and paralegals face many challenges: it can be more difficult for them to secure progression within firms, their qualifications are not always fully recognized, and we are still working to secure broad practice rights across all areas of law. It is hugely disappointing that 81% of CILEX members think that the legal profession looks down on them.
We all know that the legal services sector EDI record needs to improve considerably. The recently published Harman Review lays bare the cultural and conduct challenges facing the Bar. In response to such challenges felt across the sector, the Legal Services Board have identified EDI as one of their five policy priorities for 2025/26. We look forward to working with them and other regulators on this.
We have made a good start over the last three years, especially on data collection, research, and raising the profile. But there is still much more to do. Our new strategy reaffirms our commitment to doing all we can to ensure fair access for all within the legal services market, including both professionals and consumers. Over the next three years, we will improve access to the profession, support CILEX members to progress, ensure consumers are well served and role model best practice. We are confident that by working together, we can build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive legal profession for the benefit of everyone.
Access the full CRL 2026-2028 EDI Strategy document
EDI objectives for 2026-2028
2025 Diversity Data Report – Chartered Legal Executives and other CILEX members
A cornerstone of our EDI strategy is the effective use of data to deepen our understanding of outcomes across our regulated community.
We publish a diversity report every two years, and the quality of diversity data collected from CILEX members has significantly improved since 2017. The 2025 survey marks the fifth comprehensive diversity data collection and the third time data has been drawn directly from the member database.
As a Board, we cherish the rich diversity of those we regulate and are firmly committed to ensuring fair access for everyone working within the legal services market. For us, promoting EDI is not an optional extra—it is at the heart of everything we do, whether as an employer, a regulator, or a partner in addressing legal issues.
Access the 2025 Diversity Report
2023 Diversity Report – Firms
We also collect diversity data from our authorised firms. In 2023 we had for the first time, enough firms for us to collect sufficient data to publish a report of our findings that preserves anonymity of our firms’ workforce. Access the 2023 Firms Diversity Report.
