Ahead of International Women’s Day (IWD) on Saturday 8 March 2025, the Law Society of England and Wales has called for the legal profession to bolster its support for women aiming for senior positions. Despite notable progress, with more new female solicitors (832) achieving partner-equivalent positions than male counterparts (522) in 2023, women still represent only 34% of partners or partner equivalents.
The Law Society has called for the government to take immediate action on criminal legal aid fees, challenging its decision to not raise fees by 15%, as recommended by the Bellamy review on criminal legal aid in 2021.