Nearly three times as many lawyers read the Gazette as any of its rivals, recently conducted independent research has revealed.

A survey of reading habits of the legal profession has confirmed the Gazette's leading position as the best source of news and information for the entire profession in England and Wales. Some 88% of the 600 solicitors surveyed said they read the Gazette once a week, while an additional 10% said they read it occasionally.


The Gazette's nearest competition - The Lawyer - is read regularly by 24% of the profession, while the other main weekly title, Legal Week, is read regularly by 10%. The Solicitors Journal and the New Law Journal were read regularly by 7% and 5% of the profession respectively.


Despite its two main rivals concentrating almost exclusively on the company/commercial sector and law firms in the City of London, the Gazette was still easily the best-read weekly in the Square Mile. Some 65% of City lawyers surveyed said they read the Gazette regularly, compared to 35% for The Lawyer and 29% for Legal Week.


Across the profession, 80% of solicitors agreed that the Gazette 'is essential reading for everyone in the legal profession'. It was also seen by 72% of the profession as the 'publication considered best for legal vacancies', compared to 9% for The Lawyer and 3% for Legal Week.


The survey was conducted by Fusion Communications, London-based specialists in media-related research.