From Mr Paul Dare.

Sir, Clients would like to see more women lawyers at the big UK law firms, says Simon Davies, managing partner of one of these firms (“Top City law firms under pressure 'to promote women and minorities’ ”, April 8). As a former corporate client, I would say that much of the action for change needs to come from the clients themselves.

At present, clients often expect to give instructions at close of business and have the results in the morning, or have lawyers present at all-night sessions when deals are being closed. Long, unsocial hours at these law firms discourage both existing employees and potential recruits and the male/female statistics you quote (which show a greater attrition rate for women) would indicate that women are less willing to go the full course than are men. As an anecdote, I recall a female friend remarking that she left her big law firm after dreaming that she was flushing her children down the lavatory.

The House of Commons was able to make membership more female-friendly by cutting back on late-night sessions. It was able to do this because it is its own master. Big law firms will have the same success only if their clients are willing to facilitate whatever is necessary.

Paul Dare,
London SW13 9LY