National Association of Women Solicitors joins forces with Law Soc

The National Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) has voted to join the new Women Lawyers Division of the Law Society, in a move intended to ensure that female lawyers benefit from more unified and influential representation in making the decisions that shape the future of the legal profession.

The choice was taken in December 2012, after two years of consultations to determine how best to serve the interests of women across the profession, from entry level to retirement. Established in 1923 as a result of the admission of the first female solicitor, Carrie Morrison, to the roll, the National AWS now has a membership of over 18,000.

Joy Van-Cooten, national chair of the AWS, said: "With the introduction of the alternative business structures and unprecedented numbers of women entering and working in the legal profession, the fusion of the AWS and the Law Society's Women Lawyers Division is in the best interests of women solicitors. We at the AWS will embrace this development in our history and feel that working with the WLD will give women solicitors a stronger, louder and unified voice. This is an exciting prospect and we look forward to continuing our mission by providing opportunities for our members and new members to influence and shape the future."

Meanwhile, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, the Law Society president, said: "Women represent almost half of all solicitors and that proportion is increasing. The new women's division of the Law Society will provide a forum for all female members to champion and tackle issues of interest to them. We aim for it to provide women solicitors with a powerful voice inside and outside the Society, and to draw from the experience of AWS in designing the offer to these targeted members."