Half of all female solicitors believe they work too many hours and that flexible working arrangements negatively affect career development, according to a survey released today (18 March) by the Association of Women Solicitors and King's College London.

Eight hundred female solicitors, including partners, associates and assistants at firms ranging from large City outfits to smaller regional and high street practices took part in the study, which was carried out last year.

The survey found female associates and assistants to be particularly unhappy about their working hours, with lawyers at these levels claiming to have significantly less control over hours worked than partners, with fewer possibilities to take time off to handle personal or family matters.

While 42% of respondents identified joining the partnership as their main measure of career success, one in three female solicitors did not believe 'there was a good chance to get ahead in their organisation'.

Attitudes to flexible working were ambivalent, with half believing lawyers working flexibly were viewed as less serious about their careers, and 44% claiming it had a negative impact on lawyers' promotion prospects.

Those who worked flexibly themselves (44% of respondents) were less satisfied with their careers than their full-time peers and felt they had significantly fewer opportunities for promotion and more job insecurity.

However, 80% of respondents indicated that they experienced 'real enjoyment in their jobs' and more than three quarters said they were 'deeply committed' to their work.

Commenting on the results, King's College professor Janet Walsh said: "Unfortunately there is a perception among some women solicitors that law firms pay lip service to work/life policies and to flexible working and are not fully committed to their implementation."

Association of Women Solicitors chairwoman and Stephenson Harwood partner Clare McConnell (pictured above) said: "What is clear is that as a profession we still have some way to go to ensuring that aspirations are met. Firms need to develop their business structures and adopt clear career paths and promotion opportunities that are genuinely open to all."