Satisfaction with the profession is growing in law firms
According to the Censis-Cassa forense survey, lawyers' perceptions of work are improving, but 30% have considered leaving
Key points
There are 228,641 lawyers registered with Cassa forense, of whom 17,177 are active pensioners and 36,274 are retired.
In ten years, the number of freelancers registered with Cassa forense has fallen by more than 10,000, a contraction that has been partly mitigated by the increase in the number of so-called active pensioners, who grew by 4,245 from 2015 to 2025.
In 2025, the difference between new registrations and cancellations is negative (-2,849, including 2,159 women and 690 men). The decrease in new recruits and the increase in seniors continuing to practice have led to a significant increase in the average age of lawyers, from 44.1 years in 2015 to 49.5 years today; at the gender level, the average age of the female component is lower (48 years) than their male colleagues (50.9 years).
Gender distinction
The male component is more represented (53.4%) than the female component (46.6%); this ratio is inverted among the youngest members: up to 34 years of age, women account for 57.3% of the total, in the 45-54 age bracket women make up 51.3%, and then fall to 42.6% between the ages of 55 and 64 and 26.9% from 65 years of age onwards. Among women, however, the highest number of deletions is recorded: in 2025, 2,369 female professionals registered against 4,528 deletions, while male members numbered 1,713 against 2,403 deletions.
Practice
The process of aggregation among lawyers is proceeding slowly and 66.2 per cent practise the profession independently; among young people, however, this trend is less marked, up to the age of 40, the percentage of single-person firms is 42.4 per cent. This is the finding of the Censis-Cassa forense survey, this year in its tenth edition, based on data provided by the social security body and more than 30,000 interviews.
