The total number of lawyers in England and Wales is continuing to rise, according to new figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

According to the SRA, the number of solicitors holding practising certificates (PCs) at the end of 2009 stood at 112,589 – a 2% rise on the previous year's total of 109,952.

During the last six years, the number has climbed by 17% – an increase of almost 17,000 on 2003′s total.

Meanwhile, similar research from the Law Society has shown that as of the end of July last year, there was a total of 115,475 solicitors holding a PC.

The disparity between the SRA and Law Society figures indicates than almost 3,000 solicitors either retired from the profession or failed to reapply for the certificate during the latter part of 2009.

Of the total of 115,475, 73% (85,128) come from in private practice, while the remainder worked in either the public sector or commerce and industry.

The number of female solicitors holding PCs has almost doubled within the last decade, with women now accounting for 45.2% of all solicitors holding PCs, while 11% (12,198) come from an ethnic minority background.