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EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAW

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The University of Law: an overview

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  • Multi-campus University with: 
    • 8 U.K. Campuses. 
    • 9 ‘Satellite Campus’ partnerships with U.K. Universities.
    • 2 International Campuses.
    • Courses in Law, Business, Criminology, Policing, Psychology and Computer Science.

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EDI Support and Success Plan

  • Developed to support the University Strategy.
  • It is designed to deliver on our commitment to supporting all our students and staff by embracing their diversity of experience to enable them to thrive and fulfil their potential.
  • Delivered through a range of prioritised targets and specific objectives.

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Overall targets:

  1. To aim to reduce awarding gaps for all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to less than 10 percentage points and achieve above benchmark in continuation, completion and progression for all underrepresented groups.

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  • A 20% increase in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic academic staff recruited and a 10% increase in staff who declare a disability.

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  • To achieve at least two EDI-related charter awards.

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  • The publication of a Staff Wellbeing Strategy

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EDI ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

OCT ‘22

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STUDENT ADVISORS

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ULAW EDI CALENDAR 2023

ACTIVE ALLIES NETWORK

MENTAL HEALTH CHARTER

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Diversity and Inclusion Advocates and Wellbeing and Accessibility Advisors.

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includes the dates of events of cultural, historical, global and religious significance.

Launch of the new network for allies of all minoritised groups.

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Cross-organisation engagement in the charter, and preliminary work on gap analysis commences.

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EDI ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

OCT ‘22

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RACE EQUALITY WEEK

RAMADAN PLANNING GROUP

PRIDE

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

A week of multi-media activities to highlight barriers faced by people of colour.

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Student and staff collaboration on multi-site iftars, resources, and discussions.

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LGBTQ+ Staff Network entry in London and Manchester.

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Virtual Q&A panel with female legal and business professionals and their intersecting identities.

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EDI ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

OCT ‘22

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HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

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GRTSB HISTORY MONTH

TDOR

SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH

Cross-organization student and staff vigil for Holocaust Memorial Day.

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Guidance developed and working on Gypsy, Roma, Travellers, Showmen and Boaters (GRTSB) into HE pledge.

Cross-organisation student and staff vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance.

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Virtual Q&A with the founder of South Asian Heritage Month.

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STAFF

70% Women

14% Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic

6% Declared Disability

5% Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual

STUDENTS UG

STUDENTS PG

70% Women

67% Women

52% Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic

19% Declared Disability

0.1% Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (incomplete data)

3% Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual

47% Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic

18.5% Declared Disability

Current staff and student profile at the University of Law

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Diversity Strand

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% of solicitors 2022

% of working population

Gender

Male

48%

52%

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Female

52%

48%

Ethnicity

Asian

12%

7%

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Black

3%

3%

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Multiple/Mixed background

3%

1%

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Other ethnic group

1%

2%

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White

81%

86%

Sexual orientation

Heterosexual

89%

93%

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Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual

3.5%

3%

Disability

Disabled

5%

14%

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Not disabled

91%

86%

Socio-economic background

Parental occupation was professional

58%

37%

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UK Independent/fee-paying school

22%

7.5%

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Highest parental qualification is degree or above

48%

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Diversity in the Solicitor Profession: 2022

Source: Solicitors Regulation Authority June 2023.

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Diversity of the judiciary: legal professionals, – 2022 Statistics (Ministry of Justice)

Gender

About a third (35%) of Court Judges and half of Tribunal Judges were women

Women were 49% of applicants and 48% recommendations

Ethnicity

5% of Judges were from Asian backgrounds, 3% from Black backgrounds

Across all legal exercises in 2021 to 2022, ethnic minority candidates account for 23% of applicants and 11% of recommendations

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Access to the Professions

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  • Belong and Succeed Conference
  • Graduate Employability Skills Module
  • Volunteering – Pro Bono and Bursaries
  • Opportunities Fund
  • One Million Mentors Project and Internships
  • Neurodiversity in the profession

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Access to the Professions

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  • Apprenticeships
  • Coop Internships
  • The Race and Ethnicity Alliance (REA) collaboration
  • Birmingham Black Lawyers
  • Social Mobility - SPB

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