Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Mrs Justice Linda Dobbs — what do they all have in common? Headline names, yes — but today they all feature as headlines in the same publication, with the launch at Clifford Chance, the world’s largest law firm, of Black Letter Law.

The ground-breaking publication is the first to highlight the achievements of notable black and ethnic minority lawyers — past and present — in an attempt to encourage others to reach for heights in the legal profession.

The publication with its 11 sections and including partners in the UK top law firms, Queen’s Counsel, judges, in-house counsel and heads of law in the public sector and politicians, contains more than 150 lawyers — and some historical context for their achievements: Mahatma Gandhi, for instance, who was called to the English Bar in 1891, and Nelson Mandela, elected an honorary bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 1994 and in 2000 an honorary Queen’s Counsel.

The work is the brainchild of Debo Nwauzu, a non-practising solicitor. “Black and ethnic minority lawyers are making history every day, with very notable examples, such as the appointment of Baroness Scotland, QC, as the first black and first female Attorney-General this year. I am excited by this and other achievements showcased in the book, particularly as it serves as an inspiration for us all and raises the aspirations of this and coming generations.”

Is the book necessary? Black lawyers are entering the legal profession in greater numbers than ever and in percentages that exceed the demographic make-up in the country. Almost one in every four law students are from a black or ethnic minority background. But as Mrs Justice Dobbs, the judge responsible for encouraging diversity within the judiciary, has said, these same lawyers are not represented within the higher echelons of the profession or judiciary.

Nor are they being recruited to the “magic circle” law firms and chambers, so they find it difficult to obtain the top-quality work. Some side-step the system and set up their own practices: the heavier concentration of black and ethnic minority lawyers in small legal aid practices is one reason why they risk being hit hardest under the legal aid shake-up.

Black and ethnic minority solicitors make up 9.7 per cent of solicitors on the roll but just over 32 per cent of law students and 17.5 per cent of trainees. Yet at the top of the profession, only 21.5 per cent of such lawyers are partners in their firms -compared with nearly 32 per cent of white solicitors.

So there has been progress — but only so far. Hence the book: it is published by the Black Lawyers Directory, which Nwauzu founded last year as the UK’s first guide to black and ethnic minority lawyers. At the time Oba Nsugbe, QC, said of the directory that its importance should not be underestimated. “In an unforgiving profession that places a premium on competition and individual excellence it becomes all the more important that we pause regularly to recognise our collective achievement and progress.”

And Nwauzu herself says: “While we still have some way to go, it is important to highlight and celebrate diversity in the law.”

It is not just a question of showcasing talent, however. The Black Lawyers Directory is also an active online forum and community (www.onlineBLD.com), helping lawyers and employers to find jobs and mentors; and running “legal gateway” schemes to help school pupils and students to secure a foothold on a legal career ladder. Its two programmes, Today’s Children and Tomorrow’s Lawyers, and the Legal Launch Pad — aimed respectively at 13 to 17-year-olds and over 18s, have backing from an impressive list of firms such as DLA Piper, Barclays Bank, Lovells, Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance, Shoosmiths, Olswangs and the BPP School of Law.

Access to the profession is one thing — promotion and reaching the top is another. But the obstacles facing the black and ethnic minority lawyers are similar to those facing women lawyers generally. Where discrimination — race or gender — still exists, it is now being firmly tackled. But the harder challenge of the profession’s structure — still antipathetic to an acceptable work-life balance for lawyers of whatever race or gender — is still waiting to be cracked.

Black Letter Law: free to many organisations but extra copies £25. debo@onlineBLD.com

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