UK law firms have moved to open up their partnerships to female lawyers during the last year, according to the latest annual statistical report by the Law Society.

The report found the total number of female partners in England and Wales increased by nearly 30% over the 12-month period ending 31 July, 2007. Female lawyers now make up 23.5% of all private practice partners, with the number of women partners hitting 7,420 – up from 5,727 female partners in England and Wales the previous year.

The survey findings represent a marked change on last year, when the results showed a decline in the number of female partners.