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Black and minority ethnic solicitors continue to figure in a disproportionate number of regulatory actions, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has admitted. It is occuring across key areas such as interventions, referrals to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the imposition of practising certificate conditions.

The four years since the Legal Services Act have seen “positive changes” for consumers, but many problems persist, the first ever assessment of the reforms has concluded. The consumer impact report, published today by the Legal Services Consumer Panel, says consumers usually get the outcomes they want and most are happy with the service they receive – although it points out that they have little experience against which to judge this.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual lawyers and staff could be inadvertently “outed” as a result of the Legal Services Board’s plans to increase diversity in the workplace, leading campaign group Stonewall has warned. The charity strongly supported monitoring the sexual orientation of staff but said the board needs to find another way of doing it.

The government intends to abolish more than 24 regulatory offences under the money laundering regulations, the Treasury has revealed. It is also working with some of the largest City law firms and other major services providers to launch a “log of professional readiness” that will help school leavers and undergraduates prepare to apply for jobs in the City.

Our latest round-up of other news of interest to Legal Futures readers includes a survey of among larger firms about ABS intentions, a lay majority on the BSB, women lawyers convinced male colleagues are paid more, good news for a big LPO provider and much more.