Allen & Overy (A&O) senior partner David Morley has called on the UK legal profession to open its doors to a more diverse pool of candidates if it is to maintain its position at the forefront of a rapidly globalising market.

Morley (pictured) was speaking in the first edition of Legal Week's new 'On the record…' video series, which will see senior members of the profession give their views on some of the most challenging topics currently facing City law firm managers.

Morley stresses that the legal profession needs to enhance the dialogue with clients – as well as management at rival law firms – to improve access to the profession, while conceding that fierce competition among City firms can often prove an obstacle to progress.

He also makes a strong case for the influence of both gender and social diversity in law firms, pointing to research which indicates that success in an organisation can be enhanced by a diversity of thinking at the upper levels, while also warning that a career in law must be accessible to people from all walks of life.

"The one thing that stands out is that if you come from an average or below average income family, the chances are less now than 30 years ago that you will make it into a career in law. That is a real shame; not just for fairness in society, but also for the profession," he says.

The video interview, first of a two-part interview with Morley, also sees him discuss his long career in law, A&O's recently launched Belfast 'near-shoring' base, as well as the issues law firms face in implementing flexible working initiatives.

Morley, who recounts how he decided to become a lawyer at the young age of 13 and jokes that he applied to A&O because it "began with the letter A", also offers advice to aspiring lawyers struggling to find work in a tough jobs market.

He says: "It's a lot tougher now (to get into the legal profession) – I probably wouldn't make it now! The competition is intense. If I had to give one piece of advice it would be that you need to be really clear in your heart that this is the kind of career you want. It is very unlikely that you will succeed in a career in law at the top level if you are doing it a little half-heartedly or because your parents expected it."

Part two of the interview will be published shortly.