*

Membership of Society

The number of members as at 31st October 2003 (being the last date of the membership year 2002/03) and as 31st October 2004 (being the last date of the membership year 2003/04) was as follows:

  2003 2004
Members holding Practising Certificates 9,120 9,443
Members not holding Practising Certificates 774 639
*
  9,894 10,082
*

The following analysis shows the occupations of the individual members of the Society holding Practising Certificates:

2003 2004
Private Practice as principals 3,585 3,589
Consultants 269 253
Associates 932 967
Assistants 1,888 2,050
Local Authorities 611 639
Central Government 666 697
Public Bodies 157 163
Commerce and Industry 318 342
Retired 5 9
not in employment as solicitors 145 196
Undisclosed 544 537
Maternity leave – 1
*
9,120 9,443
*

Occupations designated as undisclosed include certain solicitors holding Practising Certificates in England and abroad.
The number of solicitors* on the Roll as at 31st October 2004 was made up as follows:

Number on Roll at 31st October 2003 11,250
*
Add: Admitted during year Men 183
*
Women 375
*
558
*
Restored during year 20
*
578
*
11,828
*
Less: Died 25
*
Removed 235
*
Struck off 6
*
266
*
Number on Roll at 31st October 2004 11,562
*
Increase of 312
*

*This includes members both practising and non-practising and those whose name is retained on the Roll of Solicitors by reason of payment only of the annual retaining fee of £50.00.

An analysis of the Roll according to age groups shows the following position:

2003 2004
Under 30 1,439 1,575
*
Over 30 and under 40 3,543 3,503
*
Over 40 and under 50 3,430 3,493
*
Over 50 and under 60 2,010 2,124
*
Over 60 and under 70 518 581
*
Over 70 and under 80 221 208
*
Over 80 83 74
*
Undisclosed 6 4
*
11,250 11,562
*

An analysis of Practising Certificate holders by age and gender:

Male Female
Under 30 564 887
*
Over 30 and under 40 1,484 1,522
*
Over 40 and under 50 1,794 1,083
*
Over 50 and under 60 1,362 342
*
Over 60 and under 70 295 42
*
Over 70 and under 80 53 6
*
Over 80 7 –
*
Undisclosed – 2
*
5,559 3,884
*

An analysis of partners holding Practising Certificates:

Male Female
Under 30 9 8
*
Over 30 and under 40 581 271
*
Over 40 and under 50 1,181 326
*
Over 50 and under 60 908 111
*
Over 60 and under 70 152 16
*
Over 70 and under 80 18 6
*
Over 80 1 0
*
Undisclosed 0 1
*
2,850 739
*

Classification:

2003 2004
Scotland 10,284 10,585
*
England 630 636
*
Wales 3 3
*
Northern Ireland 11 13
*
Isle of Man 5 6
*
Channel Islands 10 8
*
Australia 48 42
*
Austria 1 1
*
Bahamas 1 1
*
Barbados 1 1
*
Belgium 17 19
*
Bermuda 8 6
*
Botswana 1 –
*
Brazil 1 1
*
Canada 15 18
*
Curacao 1 1
*
Denmark 2 1
*
Falkland Islands 2 2
*
France 21 14
*
Gambia – 1
*
Germany 10 11
*
Greece 2 2
*
Hong Kong 35 30
*
Indonesia 2 2
*
Italy 3 3
*
Japan 1 –
*
Jordan 1 1
*
Kenya 1 1
*
Luxembourg 4 5
*
Malaysia 2 2
*
Monaco – 1
*
Netherlands 10 13
*
New Zealand 8 12
*
Norway 2 1
*
Poland 1 1
*
Portugal 1 1
*
Qatar 1 1
*
Republic of Ireland 9 12
*
Romania 1 1
*
Singapore 6 7
*
South Africa 2 2
*
Spain 2 3
*
Sri Lanka 1 1
*
St Helena – 2
*
Sweden 1 1
*
Switzerland 13 12
*
Taiwan – 1
*
Thailand 2 2
*
Tonga – 1
*
Turkey – 1
*
Turks & Caicos Islands 1 1
*
United Arab Emirates 5 6
*
USA 41 45
*
Vietnam 1 1
*
West Indies 14 15
*
Zimbabwe 3 2
*
11,250 11,562
*

The oldest member of the Society was aged 98 as at 31st October 2004 .

Of the solicitors on the Roll as at 31st October 2004 , 4,867 were female and 6,695 were male.