2015 post UK election discussion

[Tree13]

The sexism in this post, and indeed this thread, is appalling.

Can you find me one credible source which suggests that "hot, attractive young female solicitors" are keeping male solicitors out of commercial/corporate law?

I work in commercial law and can tell you from first-hand experience that it is a competitive industry which demands a number of skills, good academics and willingness to work long hours. Most trainees are there to provide assistance to senior solicitors on drafting, negotiating, etc, not eye-candy like you suggest.

Could it be that the trends in the rise of female solictors have anything to do with the fact that female/male law students are a 60/40 split? Could it have anything to do with the fact that female law students are outperforming their male counterparts academically on average? No of course not, they're women, they must be there for the men to look at, rather than on their own merit.

You are driving an agenda here which is insulting and wholly untrue. Contrary to what you say, if there is any gender inequality in the legal profession, it is against women, who are only paid 68% of what men are paid on average - over £50k per year difference on average.

Admit it. You read the first two sentences of my post and just stop there, didn't you.

Some proof of that: I referred to NQs and early stage PQE, but you ignored that and spoke about trainees. I specifically state that the female candidates are perfectly capable and qualified - you decided to accuse me of saying they are hired as eye-candy. I said that in CERTAIN areas of law, being a very pretty young female can confer an advantage if your firm has a client who is likely to send more work to your firm due to the presence of the aforementioned young attractive female. You ignored this suggestion entirely.

And show me a firm that offers trainees, NQs or low PQE associates different rates of pay according to their genitals. Please. If you take the industry as a whole, from top to bottom, including every judge and 80-year old senior equity partner then yes, pay is skewed in favour of males - because the current equality at trainee, NQ and low-to-middle PQE has not been in place long enough to address the historical imbalance. But it's working, and the evidence of this was pointed out by yourself: the 60:40 split in favour of females at student level, which I would remind you is also the same at trainee level and only slightly reduced at NQ level.

 

[roydo]

Not when they make themselves shared owners by taking your equity it isnt.

Maybe I dont understand it then mate; I always thought that any equity in a shared ownership would be shared at the same ratio of the % arrangement when bought.

 

[Tree13]

The state is going to pick up a bit a few bills though isn't it? I presume you'll be happy to take maternity and NHS care etc.

I'm sure many Tories benefitted nicely from the state and now don't want others to do the same.

Read my earlier posts: I am in favour of private health insurance on the same basis, and for the same reasons, that I am in favour of private education.

I have no problem with people of any political persuasion accessing state support. I object to people wilfully refusing to plan and budget in advance, thereby minimising their need for the support in the first place.

 

[daylightrobber]

Mate, with respect, that is nonsense.

I was astonished when I found out that me and Mrs R could get some welfare payments, help with poll tax as it happens, but I would guess there would be others as well. Didnt feel comfortable taking them, cos I just didnt think I should take from a limited pot of cash when we didnt really need to, and I am well aware of folk locally who do need a helping hand. Packed in smoking instead.

Now that is not a clarion call for everyone on benefits to find a bike etc etc, just an example of why your point is nonsense.

I may have expressed it very crudely but it's not nonsense. Not even close. The biggest demographics voting Tory are pensioners and middle aged high earners. These people will have received good handouts throughout their life. Not just child benefits but educational grants, pensions that meant something and the like. Now you might argue that they've contributed more but that's not the idea of the system.

We're now at a point where we've gone into an election knowing that the Tories will cut 12b off the welfare bill. Of the 11m that voted for the Tory how many looked back and thought actually I've done alright out of this country maybe the poor need the breaks now.

If you think that wealthy Tories don't take out of the system why haven't the majority of them paid back their winter fuel allowance etc. ?

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Maybe I dont understand it then mate; I always thought that any equity in a shared ownership would be shared at the same ratio of the % arrangement when bought.

I'm on about Govt taking the equity off you cos you've dared to claim tax credits, then making you rent back their bit.

 

[daylightrobber]

Read my earlier posts: I am in favour of private health insurance on the same basis, and for the same reasons, that I am in favour of private education.

I have no problem with people of any political persuasion accessing state support. I object to people wilfully refusing to plan and budget in advance, thereby minimising their need for the support in the first place.

I take it you won't be investing in a private pension and benefitting from the tax breaks then.

 

[roydo]

voting Tory are pensioners

high earners

Well I am neither.

 

[SNova]

Nik, I have no idea why you keep linking me to American generic sources when I'm discussing specific issues relating to Britain.

Regarding inequality in solicitors gender pay gap, have a read of these and see if you can be swayed... The arguments presented in that random American video are wholly irrelevant here.

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/practic...ice-gender-pay-gap-widens/5040421.fullarticle

http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/news/p...ds-gender-pay-gap-widens-in-private-practice/

Isn't law pay often performance based?

 

[rascal]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...ce-fee-is-worse-than-a-poll-tax-10241144.html

Mr Whittingdale also has a strongly right-wing record on parliamentary votes.

According to the site They Work For You, which collates the way MPs have voted, he has voted very strongly against equal gay rights, strongly against the fox hunting ban, very strongly against equal marriave and moderately against laws to promote equality and human rights.

On the plus side, you can add this woman to to list of right-whinging women who'd get it. Priti Patel. Also, she supports a return of capital punishment

 

[roydo]

I'm on about Govt taking the equity off you cos you've dared to claim tax credits, then making you rent back their bit.

Didnt know that mate. Seriously. Not an area I am up to speed on if I am honest.

 

[bring the ghost on]

Isn't law pay often performance based?

Are you suggesting female solicitors perform worse than male solicitors?

 

[SNova]

Are you suggesting female solicitors perform worse than male solicitors?

Overall, it's quite possible. Not because men are better, but if you factor in maternity leave and salary negotiations (which men tend to ask for more often) it may be why there is a 'gap'.

 

[roydo]

Are you suggesting female solicitors perform worse than male solicitors?

My ex wife had a really really good female divorce solicitor. I had a really really bad male one.

So I know what I will do if I need another one in that field, thats for sure.

But as me and Mrs R are not actually married after 16 years, hopefully, that wont raise its head. ffs.

 

[SNova]

Overall, it's quite possible. Not because men are better, but if you factor in maternity leave and salary negotiations (which men tend to ask for more often) it may be why there is a 'gap'.

Considering there is an equal pay act, a law firm is one of the last places you'd expect sexist pay. They'd sue the company.

 

[daylightrobber]

For those of you discussing shared ownership. What's yours is yours. The other %age will be covered by legal agreements that are very hard to change. As it stands the law is very much in favour of the owner/tennant.