11.18.08

National Association of Women Lawyers Survey

Posted in status of women at 8:53 am by Marianne Trost

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

09.18.08

status of women in the profession

Posted in golf, status of women at 10:11 am by Marianne Trost

Improving the status of women in the profession is at the core of my passion. A colleague and friend of mine (I won’t post her name here, but I will say that she is a highly accomplished golf course transaction lawyer. If you ever need an outstanding referral in this niche area, just let me know and I’ll pass along her contact information) forwarded me a link to Dean Kagan’s (Harvard Law School Dean) recent remarks on the status of women in law.

In addition to being very articulate and on point, I found Dean Kagan’s facts, figures, interpretation of trends, and perspective of interest. If you want to check it out, here’s the link. http://www.law.harvard.edu/about/dean/women-in-law.html