The survey, the UK-based Law Society said, intended to identify the perceived and concrete barriers in the career progression of women in the legal profession.

It found that 91 per cent of respondents feel that a flexible working culture is critical to improving diversity in the legal profession, with 88 per cent of men and 93 per cent of women in favour.

These figures have increased in recent years, with 86 per cent of both men and women perceiving flexibility as key for diversity in 2012.

In overcoming gender inequality in legal workplaces, this finding was supported by a separate one from the report: traditional network routes to promotion was the third most cited barrier to women’s progression in law, “since these are mostly male-dominated”.

“Flexible working is not an available option for many female lawyers, despite the technological progress that facilitates working remotely and the numerous benefits to business and employees,” the report said.

“In many jurisdictions, flexible working is not culturally acceptable and those who work flexibly commonly feel dismissed as uncommitted to their roles. This is primarily due to an office-based mindset and their presenteeism.”

The research also found a large disparity in perception by gender on the level of progress in advancing equality in the legal profession across the globe, with 74 per cent of men perceiving progress in advancing gender equality, but only 48 per cent of women said the same.

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