The Law Society has marked International Women’s Day with a call to the profession to continue efforts to retain women solicitors and help them progress up the career ladder to the most senior positions.
While the proportion of women in law firms has risen from 48% in 2015 to 53% in 2023, women represent 32% of full-equity partners.
Society president Nick Emmerson said: ‘There are persistent issues regarding the pay, retention and promotion of women solicitors which impacts the careers of women within the profession. Work is not always fairly allocated with some women also experiencing a lack of employer support for a work-life balance. These issues are further compounded by the lack of visible senior women role models resulting in many women being held back from reaching their full potential.
‘Firms and the profession are losing brilliant solicitors on the cusp of senior leadership. As a result, the profession and the public are not benefitting from the diversity of thought that women will bring into the roles and the rooms where decisions are being made and talent is lost.’
Emmerson urged firms to sign the Society’s Women in Law pledge, which requires signatories to commit to senior-level accountability for progressing gender equality.
The International Bar Association today unveiled 10 directives to help women ‘break the glass ceiling’ and achieve more senior roles within their organisation. The directives include gaining internal and external visibility, continuing to build skills and knowledge and defining priorities as part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Employers should embrace flexibility and mentoring/sponsoring.
Attorney General Victoria Prentis marked International Women’s Day earlier this week with a networking event (pictured above). Guests included lady chief justice Dame Sue Carr, deputy senior presiding judge Lady Justice Thirlwall, members of the judiciary, senior government lawyers and members of the attorney general’s counsel panels.
Prentis said: ‘International Women’s Day is a wonderful moment to recognise the trailblazing women in the legal profession who have laid the path for so many women in law. It was wonderful to gather so many fantastic leaders from across the legal sector to look forward to next 100 years of women in law.’
Danielle Ayres, an employment law partner at Primas Law, is a legal adviser to Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity dedicated to campaigning on the issues that affect pregnant and working mothers.
Ayres said: ‘If I could give any advice to women aspiring to pursuing a career in the legal industry, it would be to push to become involved, step out of your comfort zone and make your voice heard. You will soon see the results that can be achieved when you do this, and so will those around you, recognising that having a range of people feeding into what they do will mean that both you and their business move forward rather than staying stagnant. Better conversations and discussions will take place, more ideas will be brought to the table and this can only lead to much better outcomes, for all involved.’
Midlands firm Wright Hassall today voluntarily published its latest gender pay gap report, which shows the median pay gap falling from 40.3% to -22% in four years. Women make up 50% of the firm’s senior leadership team and partner group.
Mark Shrimpton, the firm’s chief people officer, said: ‘I believe that we are one of the only UK law firms – if not the only – which can say we have a negative gender pay gap, and I am extremely proud that we are leading the way in this area.’
