The Law Society of England and Wales has compiled an Annual Statistics Report (ASR) for over thirty years, providing a comprehensive picture of how the solicitors' profession has evolved.

This year's ASR maintains the approach to compiling data that was initiated in 2014, and which reflects changes to the Management Information systems used by the Law Society. Information contained in the ASR is unique in terms of the depth of analysis of individuals and firms.

The headline findings in this year's ASR are...:

• As at 31 July 2017 there were 139,624 solicitors with practising certificates (PC), and 181,968 individuals in total on the Roll of solicitors;
• The number of PC holders was 2.5% higher than 12 months earlier, with the total on the Roll up by 3.9%;
• The number of female PC holders exceeded male colleagues, although this did not apply to all solicitors on the Roll;
• BAME groups amongst PC holders rose to 16.5%, continuing the steady increase from 7% in the year 2000;
• In 2017 the number of PC holders working in-house was 3.2% higher than a year earlier, and the in-house sector is now home to 22.2% of working solicitors across 4,500 commercial and 1,000 not-for-profit organisations;
• A new high of 15,896 students graduated with first degrees in law, and a record number graduated with first class honours;
• A record 23,605 new students were accepted onto first degree law courses for the academic year 2017-18;
• In the year to July 2017, the number of trainee registrations was broadly stable on the previous 12 month period, at 5,719 - only 9 fewer than in 2015-16;
• The share of new female trainees reached a record 63.6%, eclipsing the previous mark set in 2007-08.
• The number of admissions to the Roll edged 2.1% higher thanks to an increase in the number of overseas transfers into the profession;
• Women represented a record 61.6% share of those admitted to the Roll in the 12 months to July 2017.

The full report is available to view and download here.