The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) called on the legal profession to take action to increase opportunities for flexible working this week as part of a campaign highlighting the hidden 'brain drain' caused by rigid working hours in Britain.

The campaign, which is backed by the Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) and the Young Solicitors Group, will include an investigation to examine practical ways of introducing flexible working throughout UK industry.


A year-long EOC study has revealed that four out of five of Britain's 5.6 million part-time workers are in jobs that do not use their full potential.


EOC acting chairwoman Jenny Watson said: 'More women than men are now entering the legal profession, but this is not represented in the highest ranks.


'The profession must take action to address the reasons why so many more women lawyers leave before they get to the stage where they can apply for judicial or partner posts.


'Crossing our fingers for a "trickle up" effect won't work if women still find it impossible to combine a senior legal career with their family responsibilities.'


She added: 'The EOC report outlines the benefits of flexibility and the potential costs to the UK economy if employers fail to take action.


'The latter is particularly applicable to law, where years of training and experience are not easily replaced and where a potential side-effect of the significant under-representation of women in the judiciary is the extent to which it undermines confidence in the judicial system.'


AWS deputy vice-chairwoman Susha Chandrasekhar said: 'The research shows that firms, as well as individuals, stand to benefit immensely from flexibility.'


Fleur Palmer, vice-chairwoman of the Young Solicitors Group, added: 'There is no reason why high-ranking, high skills positions, including those of barristers, solicitors and judges, shouldn't be open to flexible working practices.'