Law Soc annual stats survey reveals training contract numbers up
updated on 05 May 2016
The Law Society’s annual report on the make-up of the profession has revealed several key stats, including that (i) the number of registered training contacts has risen, and (ii) the growth in numbers of practising solicitors has been led by women, at a rate that if it continues, will see women outnumber men in the profession by 2017.
The Law Society of England and Wales Annual Statistics Report 2015 (executive summary) revealed the following headline findings:
- There were 133,367 solicitors with practising certificates as at 31 July 2015, up 2.3% on previous year.
- The number of training contracts rose sharply from 5,001 to 5,457, a 9% increase, with female trainees constituting the majority of the increase.
- The proportion of ethnic minority lawyers continues to rise, standing at 15.5% of practising solicitors, and representing an increase of 4% since 2014.
- The number of private practice law firms is shrinking, falling by 1.5% to 9,403.
- The ratio of male to female solicitors is 51.2% to 48.8%, but the growth of numbers of practising solicitors over the past 10 years has been led by women, who account for 71% of the increase.
- However, the difference between the proportion of male and female partners remains substantial; 42.4% of men versus 19.0% of women.
- More than a fifth of all practising solicitors work in the City; numbers in the City have risen by 60% over the past 10 years – double the rate of growth in other areas.
- Solicitors working in house made up 21.6% of practising solicitors in 2015, up from 15.0% in 2000.
Catherine Dixon, Law Society chief executive, said: “Diversity is improving, with the proportion of BAME solicitors continuing to grow and more women than men entering the profession. However, the gender and ethnicity gap at a more senior level continues. Firms with good diversity, inclusion and social mobility policies have a competitive advantage.”
