The Legal Services Board strategy document “Reshaping Legal Services” includes goals such as “Dismantling barriers to a diverse and inclusive profession at all levels” and ” Legal professionals as diverse as the communities they serve.”
Association of Women Solicitors, London was founded to 1992 and therefore celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 2022 the same year as the Centenary of the admission of the first woman solicitor Carrie Morrison in December 2022. The excellent book produced by the First 100 Years project[1] outlines progress over the ensuing 100 years but as recited in its Epilogue issues remain.
There is no longer a barrier to women becoming solicitors. Since 2017 more women than men have been admitted every year and in 2020 women accounted for 64.2% of trainees and 52% of solicitors holding practising certificates but issues remain on retention, pay and promotion particularly in the private sector. In 2020 only 32.9% of partners were female.[2]
Research indicates that the problems are cultural and structural. Despite the long and intensive training qualifications will not, without more, ensure survival. It is believed that that as many as one third of women solicitors leave the profession within 5 years of Qualification and do not return. Why do these professionals leave? We would like to see more research on why these women go and therefore do not proceed to partnership. Is it the Gender Pay Gap? (11.3% in 2021[3]) Is it the stress of the job? (Recent research by LawCare found that women remain more likely to experience bullying and harassment.) Is there any variation between work sectors and types of firm or can the attrition rate be explained simply by the difficulties of combining legal practice with childcare? Has the new pandemic emphasis on working from home affected “presenteeism”?
Association of Women Solicitors, London is an independent organisation.
The Objects are
1.1.1. To represent, support and develop the interests of women solicitors.
1.1.2. To provide professional, business and social activities for women solicitors.
1.1.3. To offer educational courses, lectures and seminars designed to benefit the standing of, and to improve opportunities for women solicitors.
The organisation offers both training and social events (both physical and virtual) thus giving younger members in particular opportunities to network with more experienced professionals outside their own firm. Recent events have included the AGM /Social at The Reform Club, plus a presentation the new No Fault Divorce Law and planned events include a panel with the Judicial Appointments Commission and a Summer Party.
Our wide membership includes lawyers at all career stages. We have successfully put forward nominations for Honorary Queen’s Counsel status and on our application a room at The Law Society is named after family lawyer Joan Rubinstein.
Using our independent voice we issue Press Releases, respond to Consultations, and liaise with organisations such as the Legal Services Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We also file Responses to Government Consultations when appropriate. Membership of Association of Women Solicitors, London is open to all women solicitors with associate membership open to other women lawyers including trainees
[1] First 100 Years of Women in Law-Lucinda Acland and Katie Broomfield in association with with First 100 Years project. Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers Ltd 2019 ISBN 978- 1 -78551-256-8.
[2] The Law Society “Trends in the solicitors’ profession Annual Statistics Report 2020
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