The Law Society has said that more needs to be done to boost the number of women at the top of firms, after a government-backed report called for a third of all board seats at Britain’s biggest listed companies to be held by women by 2020. 

The Davies review has set a voluntary target for the number of women on boards in FTSE 350 companies to reach 33% within the next five years, a target that is likely to also focus closer attention on the number of women in the boardrooms at the top City firms. 

It also said that companies should look to ‘fundamentally improve’ the representation of women on executive committees and in senior, leadership positions.

The report said: ‘It is fundamental to now extend the drive to improving the representation of women in the senior-most leadership improve positions in FTSE companies. Strengthening women’s representation in executive layers is also key to maintaining and growing the supply of talented women serving on FTSE boards for the future. 

Responding to the recommendations, Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon, said diversity in the legal profession is starting to improve.

But she added: ‘Although more women joined the profession last year women are still under-represented at the top of the profession. Through our diversity and inclusion charter, we work closely with law firms to share good practice and demonstrate that good diversity and inclusion policies give a competitive advantage.’