Last week Sullivan & Cromwell promoted five new partners, four of whom are women. The firm said policies aimed at recruitment and retention of female attorneys, such as maternity leave and flex time, were responsible for the growth in female partners.

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This is slightly better than the 32% difference reported for 2007.

At the largest firms, the pay gap was 45% for 2008. Associates and assistants have the lowest pay gap, around 10%.

There was an 18% pay gap reported between Anglo-Saxon and ethnic minority solicitors.

The survey of 1,200 solicitors found that the genders work the same number of billable hours, but the men are paid more per hour.

The Law Society of England and Wales is the professional association that represents the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practicing and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important issues are being debated in Parliament or by the executive. The society was formed in 1825.

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