In revisiting its equality and diversity strategy, the Solicitors Regulation Authority ought to take a look at the question of age discrimination in the provision of training contracts.

There has been publicity about partners in their 50s being forced out, but the implications of a retirement age of 50 for second-career students in their late 30s, 40s and 50s has never been mentioned by the Law Society.

While there is an increasingly large number of black and minority ethnic trainees and newly qualified solicitors, there is no diversity in the age make-up of trainees, regardless of their ethnicity or background.

In 2002, one law firm informed the College of Law that it welcomed ‘mature students’, but its age limit was 30. Yet law schools continue to undertake the tuition of older students, convinced that with their experience they will prove the exceptions. Little do they know that that experience can work against them. Many law firms prefer to mould unblemished students who are judged on their shining potential because they have not worked enough to have made mistakes.

Joyce Glasser, London NW3