International Women's Day: bulldozing the barriers

8 March 2010

The Law Society and Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) are today hosting a summit of female lawyers to celebrate International Women's Day.

In the last 88 years the number of women in the solicitors' profession has grown from 4 to 52,000. "A lot has been achieved but there is still more to do", says Dr Clare McConnell, Chairwoman of the AWS.

The round table discussions have been called to bring together experienced women within the profession to identify some of the remaining barriers and obstacles to career progression within Legal Practices and explore the routes to a successful legal career.

The Law Society has had major success in terms of attracting women members. Women now account for 45.2 per cent of solicitors and the number of women holding practicing certificates has nearly doubled since 1999, having increased by 86.9 per cent. However, the Society recognises the need to further improve the diversity of the profession in terms of female solicitors reaching partner level.

International Women's Day is a major day of global celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements of women. The Law Society and AWS are taking this opportunity to explore the career experiences of women in the profession by hosting a series of discussions during the day and celebrating the achievements of women in the profession at a reception with guest speakers in the evening.

Dr Clare McConnell, Chairwoman of the AWS said, "Women have been exceptionally successful at entering the legal profession, making up 60 per cent of new entrants. However this success seems to have plateaued in that women solicitors are not making the progress through the profession that they should. While the majority of those coming into the profession are women, a much smaller number are reaching partner level or senior positions of responsibility. In private practice (as an example), only 21.5 per cent of women solicitors are partners, compared to 41.9 per cent of male solicitors. There is also a considerable pay gap between male and female solicitors. The Association of Women Solicitors is working closely with the Law Society to ensure that the problem of under-representation of women solicitors in positions of responsibility and seniority in the profession is eradicated."

The Association of Women Solicitors (AWS), which boasts 18,000 members, has joined up with the Law Society in a joint equal pay campaign. The campaign is drawing attention to the inequalities in the profession, exploring its causes and suggesting potential solutions. The outcome is also likely to change the working practices of the legal profession as a whole.

Solicitors have been synonymous with long hours of work and high stress environments. Many law firms are beginning to take notice and are developing new working practices which meet today's demand for a better a work/life balance. Some firms now make it easier for staff to work while they bring up a child and are becoming more flexible in the way staff work. Law firms are gaining recognition for their commitment to providing an adaptable and rewarding working environment for staff which both men and women can benefit from.

The Law Society's Director of Communications, Inclusion & Corporate Responsibility, Stephen Ward, says: "The solicitors profession has made equality and diversity a priority for moral and business reasons and that has remained constant throughout the difficult economic challenges we have all faced. The Law Society is working hard to help the profession with its own efforts to improve the career paths of women solicitors as well as to broaden entry and progress through the profession more generally.

"A Law Society Equality and Diversity toolkit, will be formally launched in April. The kit is accompanied by a set of equality standards and a host of useful information to help in embedding equality and diversity in their standard practices. It takes firms beyond compliance with rule 6 of the code of conduct and highlights their commitment to the Law Society Diversity Inclusion Charter, which enables firms to publicly signal their commitment to best practice on equality, diversity and inclusion."