Women solicitors earn 29% less than their male colleagues, the Gazette can reveal this week.

The Law Society’s latest salary survey showed only a slight narrowing of the pay gap between the sexes compared with the previous year’s figure of 32%.

While the gap can largely be attributed to the differences in PQE and practice areas of men and women in the profession, 8% is thought to relate to direct discrimination, either conscious or unconscious.

The survey of 1,200 solicitors found that, while women work fewer hours on average than men, there is no difference in the number of hours billed between the sexes. However, men are paid more for the hours billed.

The study, which relates to 2008, also found that women were still ‘significantly less likely’ to be promoted to partner than men, even after taking into account differences in PQE and tenure at the firm.

The biggest median pay gap was seen in firms with 41 to 170 solicitors – large firms, but not the biggest. However, the largest firms showed the widest mean pay gap, at 45%. This indicated that the highest earners in these firms were more likely to be men than women.

The narrowest median pay gap was seen for associates and assistants, at 10%. The gap for salaried partners was 24%, while for equity partners and sole practitioners it was 34%.

The research also showed an 18% difference in pay between white and ethnic minority solicitors, a slight increase on last year. However, the study noted that once issues such as type of work are factored in, there is no evidence of direct discrimination on pay. It suggests that ‘inequality in obtaining employment, either at all or in different types of firm, or areas of law, is likely to be at the root of the problem.’

Clare McConnell, chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors (AWS), which is leading an equal pay campaign, said the profession needed to improve flexible working. The Law Society is working together with the AWS to ‘ensure women get the recognition they deserve’.