Women Struggle to Hit Heady Heights of Law Firms
It is clear now (it took a couple of decades) that women are equally able when it comes to doing the top jobs in the legal profession. Much has been made in recent years of gender equality and much has been done – 20% of partners in the top 100 are now female. So the stats are improving even if they have some way to go – the Magic Circle proved less inclusive on the ‘equality scale ’ than …
It is clear now (it took a couple of decades) that women are equally able when it comes to doing the top jobs in the legal profession. Much has been made in recent years of gender equality and much has been done – 20% of partners in the top 100 are now female. So the stats are improving even if they have some way to go – the Magic Circle proved less inclusive on the ‘equality scale ’ than smaller firms with just over 14% of partners being of the female variety last year.
Improving stats are great PR and indicate progression (even if it’s slow) but statistics only reveal what the user intends to show you. In the case of legal profession, the focus is generally on fee-earning roles and the progression of females to the higher echelons of the fee-earning ladder – i.e. the numbers becoming partners and equity partners.
Elsewhere however, the picture might not be so pretty. Research into non-legal top roles, directors etc shows a less favourable state of affairs. The Gazette notes:
‘Just 12% of top-100 law firm FDs are female, and only 15% of IT directors are female,’ says the research, while ‘only one top-100 law firm has women across the board’, which is Reynolds Porter Chamberlain. Apparently these numbers make it more likely to find a woman running a national newspaper than a law firm finance department.
So women can do the top legal work but can’t run the business side of law firms? Looks like the house of law has a bit more to get in order before it brags about its equality credentials.
More on equality
20% of partners in top 100 now female; surprise, surprise; smaller firms outstrip magic circle
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December 2, 2009
I don’t think that 20% of partners being women is really that great. The fact other roles are primarily reserved for men just shows how little progression has been made!
December 2, 2009
agreed. and, I would imagine, very few of those so called partners are actually “equity” level, which is where the power is. salaried partners are really just glorified wage slaves.
December 2, 2009
turkeys won’t vote for christmas. it’s easy for decision makers to make changes lower down because it doesn’t affect them. it’s pathetic how firms mke such a big deal about this issue but drag their heels at the same time
December 2, 2009
isn’t the point that top level commercial law is becoming almost incompatible with a balanced family life, which is what lots of women in the profession (and some men) value over equity partnership and unlimited $$ (with associated ridiculous hours and high level stress). they just vote with their feet…
December 16, 2009
Well given that the number of women in law has increased dramatically so 20% is nothing.In the law firm i work in , there are more female lawyers and only now after 26 years they have taken on a female equity partner .The numbers just dont add up.Law is a profession which is supposedly for men! we do the work and they get the rewards .I guess I am not alone in thinking its a hard long struggle to get to the top for a woman or even get a decent salary!!!! arggggggggggggggggggggggh