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Picking a "median" figure distorts the true picture.

The median for solicitors may well be £41,178 but, as the author admits, this means that half earn more than that and half earn less than that. The half earning less will not be earning less than nothing (although it may feel that way sometimes!), i.e. the difference between the lowest and the median is no greater than £41,178. But the difference between the median and the highest could easily be millions of pounds. How many other "typical" professions used as a comparison will have a range like this? How many millionaire rolling-stock repairers are out there?

All credit for drawing attention to the point but this is hardly a compelling argument! Politicians will still point to the richest 0.01% of solicitors earning seven figures and complain about Fat Cat lawyers.