Is not the headline ‘Pay gap points to discrimination’ undermined by one of the figures in the article (see [2009] Gazette, 9 July, 1)? The greatest discrepancy of all between male and female pay is apparently 34% for sole practitioners. This is the same gap as for equity partners and 5% more than the overall average gap of 29%.

Thus, a female solicitor working for herself could reduce the pay gap by joining a larger firm other than as a salaried partner. So who is it who is discriminating against those women who work for themselves?

Robert Last, Caversham Solicitors, ReadingFirms