The latest diversity data, collected by the Law Society as part of solicitors’ annual practising certificate (PC) renewal process for 2025/26, was completed by two-thirds (66 per cent) of members and offers a key insight into the make-up of today’s Scottish legal profession and emerging trends.

The research examined solicitors’ ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and sex.

Data for 2025/26 was compared against previous diversity surveys and the 2022 Scottish Census, to understand how the demographic profile of solicitors compares to the wider Scottish population.

Key findings for 2025/26 include:

• Solicitors from a minority ethnic background have increased to 4.36 per cent compared to 4.01 per cent in 2022/23.
• The increase was greatest among solicitors aged 30 and under, rising from 5.23 per cent in 2022/23 to 6.08 per cent in 2025/26.
• Nationally, the 2022 Scottish Census shows individuals from a minority background account for 5.51 per cent of the population.
• At least 10 per cent of solicitors reported having a disability, including physical and non-physical conditions.
• Christianity remains the most reported religion among solicitors at 33.88 per cent, down from 35.7 per cent in 2022/23.
• Religious affiliation among solicitors appears to reflect wider societal trends, with a steady decline in Christianity and a corresponding increase in those identifying as having no religion.
  Of the solicitor population, 4.94 per cent are LGBTQ+, up from 4.18 per cent in 2022/23.
• This compares to 4 per cent in the 2022 Scottish Census.
• A clear age-related pattern is evident, with older respondents more likely to select “prefer not to say” and less likely to select a LGBTQ+ orientation.
• Younger solicitors, aged 20-39, are more likely than older respondents to report indicators of socio-economic disadvantage during childhood, such as receiving free school meals or other means-tested financial support. Findings suggest younger solicitors are entering the profession from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds than previous generations.
• Socio-economic background questions were revised for 2025/26 to reflect up-to-date understandings of socio-economic background, financial hardship and social mobility. The 2025/26 results therefore represent a new benchmark and are not comparable to previous diversity surveys.
• Women make up 59.93 per cent of the Scottish legal profession, based upon survey respondents.
• Women entering the solicitor profession outnumber men by around two to one. However, this trend reverses in older age groups, with a notable shift around age 55, where the proportion of male solicitors rises to 85 per cent.

Ben Kemp, chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “It is encouraging to see our profession increasingly reflect the population that we serve in Scotland. This data not only shows progress in key areas, but helps us identify where further action is needed and the opportunities that are possible for improvement.

“Of course, the survey data is only ever one part of the story. We are keen to learn more about the people and the perspectives that sit behind the information we have captured. To support our work and build a more complete picture, we will be running engagement events with our members in the near future to gain further insights and add context to the figures.

“This work reinforces our commitment to continuing to build an inclusive profession for all.”