Magic circle firm Linklaters has published anonymised diversity statistics revealing the gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and educational background of its UK lawyers.

The statistics come ahead of the Legal Services Board’s requirement that all firms publish this type of research from next year.

The figures show that more than three-quarters of Linklaters’ partners are male, while associates and trainees are evenly split between the sexes.

Some 89% of the partners and 74% of the associates described themselves as ‘white’.

Just 3% of male partners and 1% of women partners said they were gay, while 9% declined to disclose the information.

The statistics showed that 39% of Linklaters partners and 33% of its associates went to state school, compared with just 38% and 30% respectively having been to an independent fee-paying school. Some 15% of partners went to schools outside the UK.

Linklaters managing partner Simon Davies said: ‘These statistics form an interesting snapshot of the firm’s diversity.

‘Linklaters is committed to widening fair and open access to the legal profession and to an inclusive culture that reflects the cultures and values of the clients and communities with whom and in which we work.

‘Collecting a broad range of diversity data from gender to social mobility enables us to monitor our progress.’

Read Rachel Rothwell's blog on diversity stats