Many corporate solicitor roles now are actually sales positions, if you look at them from a certain perspective. Male company directors, when buying in legal services, like to buy in hot, attractive young female solicitors. There is an overabundance of them in certain areas of law (mainly the commercial areas) but obviously those factors are far less relevant in other areas, such as criminal defence.
If you look at the gender breakdown amongst NQ and early PQE solicitors, there are significant differences in certain sectors. They (the females) are every bit as capable and qualified, but invariably are preferred in the corporate positions because of the PERCEPTION that they will be more likely to attract more clients.
The sexism in this post, and indeed this thread, is appalling.
Can you find me one credible source which suggests that "hot, attractive young female solicitors" are keeping male solicitors out of commercial/corporate law?
I work in commercial law and can tell you from first-hand experience that it is a competitive industry which demands a number of skills, good academics and willingness to work long hours. Most trainees are there to provide assistance to senior solicitors on drafting, negotiating, etc, not eye-candy like you suggest.
Could it be that the trends in the rise of female solictors have anything to do with the fact that female/male law students are a 60/40 split? Could it have anything to do with the fact that female law students are outperforming their male counterparts academically on average? No of course not, they're women, they must be there for the men to look at, rather than on their own merit.
You are driving an agenda here which is insulting and wholly untrue. Contrary to what you say, if there is any gender inequality in the legal profession, it is
against women, who are only paid 68% of what men are paid on average - over £50k per year difference on average.
