The gap between men and women's pay at the legal profession's regulatory and representative bodies is 'substantially lower' than across the UK workforce as a whole, the organisations announced today. 

The 2017 gender pay gap report by the Law Society Group finds a median pay gap of 5.6% compared with the current UK median pay gap of 18.4%. The report details the combined results of the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority, which are one legal entity but operate independently.

A Law Society Group spokesperson said: 'The main reason for the group gender pay gap is the imbalance of male and female colleagues in the most senior executive roles in the group. Around 60% of the Law Society group workforce is female and they are represented at all levels, including many middle managers in the upper quartile. Yet fewer women are in senior executive roles. This disparity at very senior levels also explains the median bonus gap of 16.4% between males and females.'

Both the Society and SRA have action plans to address this challenge and the group is committed to reducing the gender pay gap, the statement said. 

The report is based on hourly rates of pay during the monthly pay period ending on 25 April 2017, bonuses paid in the year up to 5 April 2017 and includes full and part time workers.