Annual statistics report 2018

At 31 July 2018, there were 143,167 solicitors with practising certificates (PCs) and 188,868 individuals on the roll of solicitors.

The number of solicitors with PCs was 2.5% higher than a year earlier.

In 2018, women with PCs outnumbered men by over 2,000, following 2017, when they exceeded 50% of PC holders for the first time.

Representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups amongst PC holders rose to 16.9%.

The numbers of PC holders working both in-house and in private practice were higher than a year earlier.

The share of solicitors working in-house expanded further to 22.4% – as private practice numbers increased only marginally to 93,825.

Among the 9,452 private practice firms, the limited company structure continued to grow in popularity. Partnerships, including sole practices, accounted for just over 40% of firms – down from 60% as recently as 2012.

The number of trainee registrations rose modestly in the year to 31 July 2018 to 5,811.