women in london

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Notices and Press Releases

Fawcett : Comments on Law Society survey

Commenting on the Law Society survey(*) Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society said:

“The gaping chasm in pay between male and female solicitors is highly disturbing, but sadly not surprising. Across the professions women are paid less than men. The paucity of senior flexible roles, long working hours culture, and plain old fashioned discrimination all conspire to shut women out of the boardroom and reduce their wage packet. Attempts to shoehorn women into workplaces made by men for men have failed and resulted in a workplace ‘motherhood penalty’.

“The gender pay gap is a national scandal. Equal pay laws require urgent reforms. But we are gravely concerned by the Government’s silence on this issue. The upcoming Single Equality Act offers a historic opportunity to introduce preventative and remedial measures – including mandatory pay checks for employers. It is time to build a workplace fit for women. UK women cannot afford to wait any longer.”

(*) A Law Society survey published this week, Earnings and work of private practice solicitors in 2007, found that male solicitors earn on average £19,000 more than females.