Call for more training contracts as SRA data shows public sector solicitors more diverse but with higher age profile

The chief executive of Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) has said there is “work to be done” on the age-profile of council legal departments after statistics have shown the vast majority of young in-house solicitors choosing to work in the private sector.

The statistics published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) earlier this month revealed that almost three-quarters (71%) of all in-house solicitors aged between 25 and 34 are working in the private sector, compared to just 21% in the public sector.

In the 35 to 44 age category, 72% of all in-house solicitors are working for private firms (compared to 22% for the public sector).

Meanwhile, 65% of in-house solicitors aged between 45 and 54 work in the private sector. For in-house solicitors aged between 55 and 64 years old, the proportion falls to 49% working in the private sector and 44% working in the public sector.

The SRA figures also show that public sector in-house solicitors are more ethnically diverse when compared with the private sector. Twenty-one per cent of in-house solicitors are Black, Asian, or minority ethnic, compared to 18% of solicitors in the private sector.

According to the data, public sector bodies also have double the number of Black in-house solicitors than the private sector (6% compared with 3%).

The SRA data also shows a greater proportion of women in the public and other sectors compared to the private sector.

Speaking to Local Government Lawyer, LLG’s chief executive, Deborah Evans said: "Local government does come across as very diverse and inclusive, but equally, we need to work hard to ensure that all of our lawyers don't head off towards retirement and then there's nobody following in their footsteps."

She added: "We've got to be really careful that local government remains attractive to young lawyers who want to start their career there – and the first thing about that is making sure that those opportunities are there for them to step into."

Evans highlighted the importance of councils offering training contracts, noting that cutting training contracts is a “short-sighted” decision which creates a “succession issue”.

She said: “We're really encouraging councils to look at a constant, turning wheel of trainees and apprentices. There needs to be people qualifying every year if we're to keep this succession going."

Evans pointed to several LLG initiatives designed to assist councils with succession planning, including a work experience week the membership body runs every July.

LLG is also working on building a national graduate recruitment scheme and is putting together specific local government-related modules to sit alongside the Solicitor Qualifying Exam (SQE) for trainees in local government.

Commenting on the public sector's ethnic diversity, Evans said local government "is really really good at diversity – that's just what the makeup of our solicitors looks like and long may it continue."

She added: "I just think it's positive attitude and a different culture and that wider acceptance that everybody's got a contribution to make.

"It's almost a barrier that's not there in the first place as opposed to something that's there to be overcome."

Adam Carey