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I'm a bit late joining this debate as it has only just come to my attention whilst perusing this week's edition of the Gazette.

I am shocked and saddened to note the degree of sexism which continues to prevail in the legal profession.

I think it's time people stopped masking their sexist views with some weak justification based on the cost to their business of women taking maternity leave. The fact is that companies can claim back almost all of the statutory maternity pay from the government, sometimes more than 100% of it if the business qualifies based on national insurance contribution levels.

So, once you've removed the cost argument, what is the real basis for prejudicing women when it comes to employment opportunities? I'm struggling to come up with one.

I'm a female solicitor who doesn't feel any particular urge to have children. However, my husband is very keen to have children and, therefore, it is likely that at some point we will take that step. My husband is a partner in a law firm and yet his career will not suffer as a result of that decision. However, based on some of the comments in this thread, it appears that I will be branded as someone who wants to "indulge my hobby of having children" simply because my husband and I have made that decision together. That doesn't seem fair to me.

I presume that some of the anonymous comments in this thread have been made by men who have children so I can't understand how they can be so blinkered. Frankly, I feel sorry for their wives/partners.

With the ever-rising retirement age, many of us will be working until we are at least 70. When put into that context, one or two maternity leaves shouldn't seem so bad. If employers get it right and treat their employees (male and female) fairly, it is more likely that they will foster loyalty amongst their employees who will continue to make a positive contribution to their firm, rather than driving out female employees at a fledgling stage of their career based on their decision to have children.

The ability to have a family and a career in the law should not be mutually exclusive.