Before 1922, there were no women solicitors in England and Wales. By 1960, only 400 had qualified. In 1977, women represented just 7% of the profession. Now there are more than 34,000 women solicitors with practising certificates, and 60% of registered trainees are women.
The training premium of up to £500 demanded by principals from their articled clerks meant that until the 1950s, qualification for anyone was a costly business. In addition, many solicitors paid their articled clerks nothing, or a trifling pittance, during the five years of their training.
