The latest annual statistical report from The Law Society has confirmed the extent to which law firms have so far failed to react to the increase in women in the profession, with the number of female solicitors nearly doubling over the last 10 years.

The report – Trends in the Solicitors Profession – published earlier this month, showed that between 2000 and 2010 the number of women holding practising certificates rose by 80%, although the profession as a whole has grown by only 42%.

Women now make up nearly half (46%) of all solicitors with practising certificates. More significantly, they have represented the majority of law firms' trainees every year since 1999-2000, edging up to count for 63% of trainees in 2009-10.