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As of 2023, there were over 90,000 practising lawyers in Australia, a 57% increase since 2011. The profession is continuing to grow and become more female, with women outnumbering men in every state. The largest proportion of solicitors are registered in New South Wales, followed by Victoria and Queensland. While the number of male solicitors grew by 26% from 2011 to 2021, the number of female solicitors skyrocketed by 67% during the same period. The mean age of lawyers has remained consistent at 42 years, as more young lawyers enter the profession.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of practising lawyers in Australia | 90,329 (as of 2023) |
| Number of practising lawyers in Australia (previous data) | 66,211 (as of 2014) |
| Number of law students in Australia | 15,000 (enrol each year) |
| Number of ATSI-identifying lawyers in Australia | 749 (as of 2023) |
| Gender ratio of ATSI-identifying lawyers in Australia | 55% women, 45% men |
| Gender ratio of lawyers in Australia | 45% growth in female lawyers since 2011; 26% growth in male lawyers since 2011 |
| Mean age of lawyers in Australia | 42 years |
| Number of lawyers in Australia working in cities | 56% |
| Number of lawyers in Australia working in suburban areas | 31% |
| Number of lawyers in Australia working in country or rural areas | 9% |
| Number of lawyers in Australia working in private practice | 67% |
| Number of lawyers in Australia working in corporate law | 21% |
| Number of lawyers in Australia working in government roles | 12% |
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What You'll Learn
Gender balance: women outnumber men in all states
The legal profession in Australia has experienced a surge in female practitioners. As of 2023, there were over 90,000 practising lawyers in the country, with women outnumbering men in every state. This shift towards gender balance is reflected in the National Profile reports, which show a 45% growth in solicitor numbers over the past decade, with a significant increase in the number of female lawyers.
The number of male solicitors in Australia grew by 26% from 2011 to 2020, while the number of female solicitors skyrocketed by 67% during the same period. This trend is supported by a 2018 report from the Grattan Institute, which found that female law graduates have outnumbered their male counterparts since 1993. This shift is also evident in the number of women studying law at the university level, with a higher proportion of women entering the legal profession compared to men.
The increasing presence of women in the legal field is not limited to solicitors. In 2020, there were 749 ATSI-identifying lawyers in Australia, with 55% of them being women. This represents a slight increase from the previous year, when the number of ATSI-identifying lawyers was 632. However, it is worth noting that ATSI-identifying lawyers still only make up 0.8% of all practising solicitors in the country.
While the legal profession in Australia is witnessing a positive trend towards gender balance, it continues to face challenges in representation, particularly regarding First Nations peoples. The legal system has often been criticised for failing to adequately address Indigenous cultures and perspectives. Additionally, the lack of Indigenous lawyers and the optional nature of First Nations subjects in legal education contribute to these ongoing struggles for representation.
Despite these challenges, the increasing number of female lawyers in Australia is a positive step towards a more diverse and inclusive legal profession. With more women entering the field, the legal landscape in Australia is undergoing a significant transformation, reflecting a broader societal shift towards gender equality and representation.
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Age: more solicitors working past 65, but a mean age of 42
The legal profession in Australia is at an all-time high, with more than 90,000 practising lawyers as of 2022. The profession has grown by 45% since 2011, with the number of female solicitors rising by 67% and male solicitors by 26%. As of 2020, there were 83,643 solicitors practising in Australia.
The mean age of Australian solicitors is 42 years, which has been consistent since 2011. However, there has been a large increase in solicitors aged 65 years and older, with a 77% increase since 2014. This trend is observed in male solicitors, with 13% aged 65 years and older compared to 3% of female solicitors in the same age bracket. The higher number of older male solicitors may be due to women leaving the profession earlier. Almost half of all solicitors are aged between 25 and 39 years, with the average age of female solicitors at 39 years and 46 years for male solicitors.
The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have younger solicitors, with an average age of 40 years, while New South Wales and South Australia have older solicitors, with an average age of 43 years. The increase in older solicitors may be due to professionals working later in life, while the rise in younger solicitors may be due to improved accessibility to legal education and more young people entering the profession.
The legal profession in Australia is also becoming more diverse, with a higher proportion of female solicitors and those from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. As of 2020, 632 solicitors identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders, comprising 0.8% of all solicitors in Australia. The profession is also seeing growth in the corporate and government legal sectors, with an 82% and 88% increase since 2011, respectively.
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First Nations lawyers: underrepresentation and calls for change
As of October 2014, there were 66,211 practising solicitors in Australia. However, the underrepresentation of First Nations lawyers in the legal profession is a pressing issue. Research suggests that only 0.8% of solicitors in Australia identify as First Nations. To address this disparity, programs like the Aboriginal Legal Career Pathways Program have emerged as a partnership between Legal Aid NSW, TAFE NSW, and Macquarie University. This program offers a pathway from TAFE study to a law degree, combined with work experience at Legal Aid NSW, empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals to pursue legal careers.
First Nations Advisor and Lawyer at Ashurst, Trent Wallace, emphasizes the need for the legal profession to become more representative. He highlights that First Nations subjects are often offered as optional electives rather than core units, impacting the practice of law in Australia and its ability to account for First Nations cultures. Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal woman Taylah Gray, a criminal defense lawyer at Aboriginal Legal Service NSW, echoes the sentiment, attributing the lack of Indigenous lawyers to a legal education system that is not designed for disadvantaged individuals.
To support First Nations peoples on the road to justice, lawyers must engage in truth-telling and amplify First Nations voices. This involves actively participating in cultural events, learning the history and culture of First Nations Peoples, and seeking out their perspectives on internal policies. At a grassroots level, lawyers can work directly with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and advocate for their voices to be heard in sentencing proceedings, thereby reducing recidivism and making a tangible impact on closing the gap.
The Aboriginal Legal Career Pathways Program is a step towards improving the legal sector for First Nations people, including the significant proportion of Legal Aid clients who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. By prioritizing education and career opportunities for First Nations individuals, the program demonstrates a commitment to creating a more inclusive and representative legal profession in Australia.
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Location: 56% practise in cities, 9% in rural areas
As of May 2023, there were over 90,000 practising lawyers in Australia, with the largest proportion of solicitors registered in New South Wales (41.6%), followed by Victoria (24.5%) and Queensland (15.7%). More than half of all these practitioners were based in cities (56%), with 31% practising in suburban locations and 9% in rural areas.
The distribution of lawyers across urban and rural Australia varies across the states and territories. Tasmania has the highest proportion of solicitors working in city areas (82%), while the Australian Capital Territory has the highest proportion working in suburban areas (49%). The Northern Territory has the highest proportion of solicitors working in country or rural areas (18%).
In terms of age, the mean age of lawyers in Australia is 42 years, which has remained consistent due to the growth of those working past the age of 65 being offset by high university enrolment numbers leading to more young lawyers entering the profession. The number of male solicitors aged 65 and over has been steadily increasing, from 7% in 2011 to 13% in 2020.
The profession has also been experiencing a shift in gender balance, with women outnumbering men in every state and the number of female solicitors increasing by 67% in the past nine years, compared to a 26% increase in male solicitors.
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Employment type: 67% work in private practice
As of May 2023, there were over 90,000 practising lawyers in Australia, with the largest proportion of solicitors registered in New South Wales (41.6%), followed by Victoria (24.5%) and Queensland (15.7%). This represents a 57% increase in growth since 2011. The profession has become more female, with women outnumbering men in every state. The number of male solicitors grew by 26% over the past nine years, while the number of female solicitors increased by 67%. This may be due to the greater number of women studying law at university.
In terms of employment type, 67% of lawyers in Australia work in private practice. Around 21% work as corporate lawyers, and 12% work in government roles. The community and government legal sectors have the highest representation of females, with over two-thirds of all practitioners being female. The number of lawyers in all areas has risen, except for those practising in suburban areas, which has dropped since the last report. The strongest employment growth has occurred in suburban areas (+85%), followed by cities (+67%) and overseas locations (+63%). In contrast, country and rural areas have experienced minimal growth over the same period (+14%).
The mean age of lawyers in Australia is 42 years, which has remained consistent due to the growth of young lawyers entering the profession offsetting the increasing number of solicitors working past the age of 65. The proportion of male solicitors aged 65 and over has increased from 7% in 2011 to 13% in 2020. The number of lawyers identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) has also increased, with 749 ATSI-identifying lawyers in 2021, making up 0.8% of all practising solicitors.
The Australian legal profession is thus a dynamic and evolving field, with a diverse range of practitioners and a growing trend towards greater gender balance and representation.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there are over 90,000 practising lawyers in Australia. This number has been steadily increasing since 2011, with a 57% increase in growth over this period.
Around 15,000 students enrol in law school each year, with 75% intending to complete Practical Legal Training and seek admission upon graduation.
Women now outnumber men in the legal profession across all states, with a 67% increase in female lawyers compared to a 26% increase in male lawyers over the past nine years.
67% of Australian lawyers work in private practice, with 21% working as corporate lawyers and 12% working in government roles. More than half of all lawyers practise in cities (56%), with 31% in suburban areas and 9% in rural areas.
