Laura Hodgson's article about the problems women and some other groups have in achieving senior roles quoted Baroness Hale, our only female Supreme Court judge.

About 10-19% of City equity partners are female; not too different from the statistic for female membership of the cabinet.

There is no reason that this proportion cannot be brought up to 60-70% in some firms.

Hale is right to highlight cultural issues as one factor. I do not drink. I do not play sport. I do not choose to socialise for work purposes. I would never join a club. I never take a client out to eat. I sell ‘pure law’ with no benefits. I am squeaky clean under the Bribery Act. I seek to be the best at what I do in the UK, no ‘bribes’, no entertaining, no golf, no parties.

This has not impeded my success in my own women-only firm and, indeed, I out-earn most men, so I do not personally have a problem. But there are cultural issues that affect board membership and promotion in law firms that can be addressed.

In addition, some foolish women, perhaps brought up in sexist homes, choose to marry and tolerate sexist men and end up in situations where it is assumed women deal with children. Many women eschew such models and find their ability to achieve much at work aided by such a sensible decision, but certainly as long as men do not do at least 50% of what is required at home women will struggle.

The more sensible female solicitors operate a domestic model where it is at least as likely that the man as the woman will arrange and manage childcare.

Susan Singleton, Singletons, Pinner, Middlesex