Scottish solicitor numbers top 11,000 to reach new high

13th November 2014 | careers , law society of scotland

Scottish solicitor numbers have reached an all-time high, with more than 11,000 now holding practising certificates, the Law Society of Scotland revealed today.

The Society's latest membership statistics also show that 56% of solicitors are under the age of 45 – and that women now make up almost half of the entire profession, at 49% compared with 51% men.

With increasing numbers of women entering the profession, however, 61% of solicitors under 45 are female, and 39% male – and 69% of all female solicitors are currently aged under 45, compared to 43% of all male solicitors. 

There are now around 20 practising solicitors per 10,000 Scottish citizens, or one solicitor in every 500 Scots. The average age of entry to the profession is 26, and 19% have qualified in the past five years.

One third (33%) are employed at big firms, defined as those with 10 or more partners, and 6% work as sole practitioners.

Over a quarter of the profession, at 28%, now work in-house in the private or public sector, as legal counsel roles gain in importance. Around 750 organisations that are not law firms employ Scottish solicitors, including approximately 250 in England & Wales and almost 100 elsewhere in the world.

Alistair Morris, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “I am very pleased that the legal profession in Scotland is continuing to grow and that so many young people see their future in law. The latest statistics are a good indicator of the improving health of the profession and that despite the difficulties experienced by many as a result of the downturn, we are making progress as the economy recovers.

“Solicitors play a crucial role in our society and our economy, helping thousands of people and businesses with a wide spectrum of legal issues, from providing advice on buying or selling your home and assistance with writing a will that ensures loved ones are protected, to representing people in court and advising clients involved in multi-million pound contracts for global companies.”