Snapshot of the solicitor profession
Over 200,000 solicitors provide an essential public service to families, businesses and communities across England and Wales. Their work is the backbone of the legal system and contributes to a healthy economy and civil society.
Force for growth
Our research shows that the legal services sector, and the solicitor profession that underpins it, is a powerhouse of economic growth.
It drives the UK economy and represents one of our country's most profitable exports.
Solicitors working both in-house and in private practice provide essential legal advice that allows multinational corporations, local government, high-street businesses, charities and educational establishments to thrive.
At home, legal services adds billions in value to the economy every year, with half a million people employed directly or indirectly.
Globally, UK legal services exports have grown by over one-third in just two years and English law governs over £500 trillion worth of commercial transactions and contracts.
“Solicitors play a central role in keeping the economy moving, from enabling complex, high-value transactions to helping clients navigate an increasingly demanding regulatory landscape. It’s work that underpins business confidence and supports growth.”
Matt Aleksic, Council member for Central London
Force for good
Solicitors are a force for good by supporting individuals, families and local communities to prosper.
Solicitors on high streets across the country provide support at every milestone in a person’s life. This includes getting on the housing ladder and resolving employment or welfare disputes, to getting married, divorced and planning your inheritance.
Solicitors help safeguard civil liberties and fight to establish a level playing field for justice.
They are often the last source of support by providing pro bono work or enhancing access to justice by undertaking publicly-funded legal aid work – often at low rates of pay.
“Solicitors provide a vital public service – one just as important as education or healthcare. We champion a strong rule of law and full access to justice to make sure everyone’s rights are respected.”
Cordella Bart-Stewart OBE, Council member for the Black Solicitors’ Network
Force for progress
Solicitors have a long history of being a force for enabling legal, scientific and societal progress.
Our digital exhibition celebrating 200 years of legal milestones highlights the pivotal role that solicitors have played in establishing equal rights legislation, housing and welfare reform, and facilitating the global adoption of new and emerging technology.
The solicitor profession has also seen significant change.
Once seen as a career open to a small number of privileged men, the majority of solicitors (53%) are now women and 19% of the profession have a black, Asian or minority heritage.
And yet, more needs to be done. 2025 will see the launch of our new approach to address the inequality and bias that continues to shape career paths and that leads to workplace cultures that leave people feeling like they can't bring their full selves to work.
“We’ve come a long way since Carrie Morrison became the first woman solicitor in 1922. Yet there is more we need to achieve together, including improving wellbeing, embedding flexible working arrangements and supporting disabled colleagues.”
Alexandra Wilson, Council member for Disabled Solicitors
Find out more about the solicitor profession
As we look to the next 200 years, data will be vital to understand how the profession is continuing to change and evolve.
Since 1984, we’ve produced our annual statistics report. The report provides insight into the size and shape of our profession. It tracks changes to help firms make informed decisions, benchmark performance, and address challenges and opportunities.
Download our 2024 annual statistics report (PDF 496 KB).
Explore findings from previous years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
