Lubna Shuja and Clive Coleman standing together at UWL in front of School of Law and Public Lectures Series banners.
Lubna Shuja and Clive Coleman standing together at UWL in front of School of Law and Public Lectures Series banners.

President of the Law Society Lubna Shuja joins Clive Coleman for a conversation at UWL

Intro

Lubna Shuja, the 7th female to become President of the Law Society of England and Wales joined the BBC’s former legal affairs correspondent, Clive Coleman, for a conversation and Q&A at UWL on Tuesday 10 May.

Main body

Clive Coleman asking Lubna Shuja questions at a public lecture at UWL.

Clive’s questions for Lubna covered her journey from working class Bradford into law practice, advice for current students, qualification into the profession, and issues facing legal practitioners today including Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), climate change guidance for solicitors and more.  

Clive asked Lubna about her journey into Law. Lubna said:

Growing up I didn’t know any lawyers; I didn’t have any legal role models. I thought that Law was for middle class white men. But I did a lot better in my A-levels than my teachers had predicted, and a friend suggested I do a Law degree. I got in through Clearing.” 

Clive Coleman at a public lecture at UWL, wearing glasses and a purple tie.

Clive quoted figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority:

“Women make up 52% of lawyers however they only represent 35% of partners in law firms. Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers make up 8% of partners in the largest firms, 9% in firms with 10-50 partners, 35% in the smallest firms and 23% in firms with 2-5 partners. 1% of partners in the largest law firms are Black. The figures have stayed at these levels for a very long time. What can be done to change them?”

Lubna said:

I’ve met with many firms who have got initiatives in place, but we’ve got to keep challenging them. We’re getting them to use our diversity and inclusion framework and our diversity access scheme helps students from underprivileged backgrounds with funding for exams, mentors and work experience.” 

Lubna Shuja, Clive Coleman and others networking at the Public Lecture at UWL.

The conversation and Q&A were followed by a time of networking and refreshments. 

Philip Ells, Head of the School of Law, said:

I was delighted to invite Lubna Shuja to UWL. I am so pleased that our students were able to engage with a major voice in the profession and learn about some of the key issues in practice at present. Lubna’s presence was an inspiration to our students, many of whom come from similar backgrounds to her.” 

Related news