England: Solicitor numbers at all-time high

Data shows that there are now 15,000 more solicitors than five years ago.

But sector consultants have sounded warnings about the expansion, saying it is unsustainable in a climate of static profits and fee pressures.

Tony Williams, principal at legal consultancy Jomati, told The Gazette: “In the last three years, if you look at utilisation rates and hours declining and revenue per lawyer which seems to have flatlined, margins have been squeezed and yet firms are still recruiting.

“The fact that the profession is still adding bodies when there is spare capacity is odd, and you would expect if anything for it to be going the other way.”

He added: “At some stage there will be a block on recruitment or we move people between departments.”