Law Update: Slow progression

The career prospects for female solicitors and those attempting to enter the profession have been damaged by the recession, according to the Law Society's latest annual statistical report. The number of trainee places fell by almost 7 per cent over the past year, the report says, and women - who now account for more than half the new admissions to the profession - continue to face a much slower career progression than their male colleagues. Support staff have also suffered. In 1992, there was a 2 per cent fall in the numbers employed. However, the society's research and policy planning unit, which prepared the report, envisages that the profession will grow to more than 70,000 practising solicitors in 1995-96.