Elizabeth Cruickshank's book Women in the Law is attracting attention with comment on attitudes towards women in the profession.

I only know about the solicitors' branch and can say that, over many years, attitudes have changed and that the south-west has been at the forefront of that change.

When I first qualified (in 1976), the chairman of the Devon Young Solicitors Group was a woman and a terrific role model for the rest of us.

In my firm, Foot Anstey Sargent, 27% of our partners are women (compared to a national average of 17%) and of these, 71% are equity partners.

Some 85% of our trainee solicitors are female, again well above the average of 60%.

I imagine other south-west firms may be able to quote similar statistics.

Jane Lister, managing partner, Foot Anstey Sargent, Plymouth