THE Law Society of England and Wales has urged the legal community to continue championing women’s advancement to top positions, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
According to figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the proportion of women in law firms increased from 48 per cent in 2015 to 53 per cent by 2023.
This specifically excludes in-house solicitors and pertains only to those employed in private practice. Although there’s still a gap in senior roles for women, it has decreased since 2015.
Other major findings include:
Nick Emmerson, the 179th president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said: “This International Women’s Day we are encouraging the profession to continue to press for increased efforts on the progression of women solicitors to senior levels and to ensure the retention of talented existing and prospective women solicitors.
“There are positive signs of progress. Firms have begun to analyse their pay gap in greater detail, publishing further data on partner pay, taking action on ensuring the gender diversity of their newly appointed partners through recruitment or promotion targets and creating strategic, realistic and measurable action plans to address inequality.”
In the Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report for 2022, it was discovered that an increasing number of solicitors are venturing into alternative career paths to advance professionally, seeking opportunities beyond the conventional path of partnership within private practice firms.
Emmerson urged members to pledge their support to the Women in Law Pledge*, which mandates signatories to commit to senior-level accountability for advancing gender equality, setting goals for women in senior positions, and fostering a culture that is inclusive and free of bias.
He also stressed the importance for organisations to create and maintain a welcoming workplace that supports flexible working arrangements, shared parental leave, assistance for re-entering the workforce after taking breaks, and alternative career paths.
Furthermore, he highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Women Solicitors Network** in promoting inclusion within the legal profession.
The Law Society of England and Wales is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest, and the rule of law.
*The Women in Law Pledge, launched in partnership with the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) in June 2019, was created to bring gender equality to the forefront of the conversation.
**The Women Solicitors Network offers help and advice to female solicitors throughout their careers, from beginners to those who’ve retired. Their aim is to ensure that the legal field represents the diversity of society.
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