The Law Gazette quotes Edwards Gibson data in analysis of why women leave legal practice

The Law Gazette’s latest analysis highlights a long‑running issue in the profession: although women now make up nearly two‑thirds of newly qualified solicitors, they continue to leave private practice at far higher rates than their male peers. Whilst the Financial Times had used our exclusive data to comment on how 'UK corporate law firms hire mostly men for highest-paid roles', Maria Shahid's piece uses Edwards Gibson data to comment on the disproportionality of women stepping away from the profession between qualification and partnership, driven by inflexible working models, caring responsibilities, cultural barriers, and the persistent challenges of navigating the billable‑hours system. The exodus is particularly acute among women under 55, who leave the roll at twice the rate of men.

Edwards Gibson’s data provides crucial context - between 2019 and 2024 gender representation varies sharply across practice areas: only 15–20% of senior hires in higher‑margin corporate and capital markets are women, compared with around 30% in litigation and real estate, and close to 50/50 in employment, environment and pensions. As director Scott Gibson notes, this discrepancy often reflects “better work/life balance” in certain areas. The data also reveals that 40% of vertical hires into partnership are women — a sign that firms may be actively using recruitment to address gender gaps.

These insights helped anchor The Law Gazette’s examination of where, and why, women remain under‑represented at senior levels, and what law firms must do to retain the talent they work so hard to attract.