I detected a strange irony having read the Opinion ‘Bridging the gender divide’ ‘Bridging the gender divide’.

The statement ‘the proportion of women that will reach partner level in private practice is half that of men’ is to some extent explained by the letter published in the same issue from Stephen Pocock of Pocock’s Solicitors.

He comments upon the new practice in Hampshire opened by Tania Jeffery and Kellie-Jayne Cox.

The fact that he compares their glass-fronted practice to a hairdressing salon and feels obliged to point out their need to practise client confidentiality is sadly (although perhaps unintentionally) patronising.

While partners like Mr Pocock are still recruiting I fear that any change will be limited.

Katie Davies-Ratcliff, Legal adviser, Lewes