Solicitors who work part-time should pay a reduced, prorated practising certificate fee, the Association of Women Solicitors has said.

Under the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposals for reform of the way the practising certificate is charged, a flat fee of around £510 will be payable per individual solicitor, regardless of the hours they work. The rest of the PC costs will be charged through a firm-based fee, calculated on turnover.

The AWS noted that, as the individual PC fee will normally be paid by the firm, the flat fee could discourage firms from offering part-time opportunities.

AWS chairwoman Christl Hughes said the SRA had missed an opportunity to address this issue. She said: ‘Law firms may be unwilling to employ women solicitors if they have to pay two full PCs for two part-timers.’ Sole practitioners working reduced hours were similarly discriminated against because they would also have to pay the full flat fee, she added.

Hughes said it would be fairer if part-time workers’ PC fees were prorated according to the hours they worked.

An SRA spokesman said there had never been any discount for part-time workers.