The Law Institute of Victoria has released its membership details for the previous financial year and women now account for 50 percent of members according to the state body for lawyers.
 
The LIV had a total of 17,188 registered members in the 2011-12 financial year, representing a two percent increase. Of those12,250 were full members, 2,165 were associate members, 2,653 were student members and 120 honorary members.

The average age of members is 40 years, however, 55 percent are under the age of 40.  More than 58 percent of employed members are working in city-based organisations and 53 percent are employed in Victorian law firms. 

The Ethics Department at LIV answered more than 2,943 enquiries during the financial year while the ethics committee, delivered 55 rulings to practitioners seeking practical guidance.

Related stories:
Queensland’s lawyer numbers drop 23 October 2012