Despite the tech industry being progressive in terms of ongoing innovation and advancements, there is still room to build on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Read more below about the different representations in the industry, the benefits of promoting diversity, and how companies can bridge these gaps in representation.
Representation in the industry
Research shows that approximately 17% of legal tech founders are women and only 2% of women receive VC funding. The ongoing gender bias is still a hurdle women face in the legal technology industry. While findings from the sixth annual report from Tech Talent Charter (TTC) show that women as well as ethnic minorities now make up a much larger percentage of the UK’s tech workforce compared to previous figures. However, diversity and representation at senior levels still requires some work.
The tech industry strives to be a supportive and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community, which a number of larger corporations such as Apple and Google have achieved, but this is not seen across the board in all tech companies.
Overall, there is still significant progress to be made in the wider UK tech industry to improve diversity and representation in the workforce.
Benefits of diversity in the legal tech industry
Diversity promotes innovation and creativity within the team which may further enhance productivity and happiness in the workplace. Fostering diversity in the legal tech industry provides more diverse perspectives and contributions from varied backgrounds and experience.
Having a more diversified representation behind the tech solutions can ensure products are more inclusive and accessible for wider use cases. This means the product can also be tailored to reflect specific needs and help users navigate with ease.
Diversity initiatives may also increase the overall impact and quality of the legal tech services a business or startup are providing.
How to foster diversity and representation
To cultivate diversity and representation in the legal tech industry, companies and organisations can implement various initiatives such as:
- Actively hiring and retaining diverse talent, including individuals from underrepresented groups, such as women or members of the LGBTQ+ community, through inclusive recruitment practices.
- Establishing mentorship programs and professional development opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Partnering with organisations and DEI initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace for the legal and technology sectors.
- Conducting regular diversity and inclusion training to raise awareness and address unconscious biases, and offer webinars or conferences with a focus on DEI.
- Supporting employee resource groups or networks that provide a space for underrepresented groups to connect, share experiences, and drive positive change.
- Encouraging all members of the team to be their authentic self and to share their experiences and their stories to cultivate more inclusive and equitable environments.
- Offering scholarships for underrepresented groups to encourage more people to start a career in the legal tech industry.
By fostering a more inclusive culture and increasing representation and diversity, the legal tech industry can better serve the needs of society and ensure everyone feels supported and heard.
The opinions on this page are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice on which you should rely.
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