News In Focus
15 April 2009
Legal profession becoming too exclusive
The legal profession is just one area identified by a government research paper as becoming more socially exclusive.
The Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, led by Alan Milburn MP, finds that many of Britain’s professions have become more socially exclusive and that, as a consequence, bright children from average income families, not just those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, are missing out on a professional career.
Amongst its key findings the report says:
- Over half of professional occupations like law and finance are currently dominated by people from independent schools which are attended by just 7% of the population
- 75% of judges and 45% of top civil servants were independently schooled
- A typical professional born in 1958 came from a family which earned 17% more than the average family income; but by 1970 the family income gap between those who went on to pursue a professional career and the average family had risen to 27%, with journalism and accountancy seeing the biggest rise
- Lawyers who were born in 1970 grew up in families 64% above the average family’s income and for doctors the figure was 63%
- By contrast the teaching, academic and cultural professions saw a decline in numbers who had grown up in families with above average incomes
The report stresses that this data reflects entry to the professions as it was in previous decades. It also stresses the social pattern may be changing, as recent evidence suggests that the link between family background and levels of educational attainment is being weakened. In addition many professions have taken action to address access issues and the report points to progress, for example, on narrowing the pay gap between male and female professionals.
Alan Milburn MP said: “This research report is in an important piece of work that will give the panel a solid basis for making our recommendations. It shows that, whilst progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to ensure that all young people get a fair crack of the whip when it comes to pursuing a professional career.
“It is shocking that despite the best efforts of many professions they seem to have become more not less socially exclusive.”
To read the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, click here