Legal profession must improve on only one in four partners being a woman

The Law Society has responded to news from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills highlighting the most improved FTSE 100 companies appointing women to their boards.

The top 10 most improved FTSE 100 boards between 2010 and October 2014 were Old Mutual; Aggreko; Glaxosmithkline; Wolseley; Land Securities Group; Associated British Foods; Capita; Petrofac; Weir Group; and HSBC.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said that companies must keep up the momentum for representation of women on their boards. "Our target of 25 per cent women on boards by 2015 is in sight. However, the threat of EU mandatory targets remains a reality if we do not meet it.

"Businesses must not take their foot off the pedal during the final stretch - if we are to avoid action from Brussels we must continue to demonstrate that our voluntary approach is the right one and is working."

The president of the Law Society, Andrew Caplen, said that the legal profession could learn from those FTSE 100 companies praised by the government.

"Diversity in the legal profession has improved greatly over the last few years," he said. "However, still only one in four partners is a woman. Through its Diversity Charter, the Law Society works closely with law firms emphasising that those with good diversity and inclusion practices will often have a competitive advantage over firms that do not.

"We very much trust that the legal profession will learn from the FTSE 100 companies who have improved their record on women in the boardroom."

Last week, the women and equalities minister Nicky Morgan called for a 'change in culture' at law firms to address the disparity between the genders.

Morgan, a former solicitor herself for 16 years, and who previously worked at City firm Travers Smith, highlighted a recent study showing female lawyers earn approximately a third less than their male counterparts.

The minister emphasised that equal pay was just one element of greater equality in the legal sector but added that it was important to change the culture of law firms as well.

"Pay women as much as you like, but if they don't feel comfortable in the working environment, we've only fixed half the problem," she added.

John van der Luit-Drummond is legal reporter for Solicitors Journal