11.18.08
National Association of Women Lawyers Survey
The National Association of Women Lawyers released its annual survey on the Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms yesterday. The survey results are a compilation of data collected over the past year from 137 of the Am Law 200. At the risk of overgeneralizing the 25 page report (of which I co-authored the sections on women initiatives, business development, and diversity) key findings include:
Women continue to be markedly under-represented in the leadership ranks of firms.
Women are promoted to equity partner only about half as often as men.
Women of color are much less likely to be in partnership positions than white lawyers of either gender or men of color.
At every stage of practice, men out-earn women lawyers.
Laterals account for two-thirds of the women who were promoted to partnership. (raising the question of whether making a
lateral move is a better strategy toward partnership than staying at one’s original firm)
Almost all Am Law 200 firms have implemented women initiative programs. (It’s too early to tell their effect on women retention and promotion in law firms.)
To view a copy of the survey results go to http://www.nawl.org/Assets/ocuments/2008+Survey.pdf
