In a sign of more bad news for women at large law firms, a recent survey from the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) found a drop in the percentage of women attorneys entering the 200 largest firms. This was the first time since the survey began in 2006 that there was a noted decline in the number of women entering big-firm practice.
According to the annual survey, not only do women represent a decreasing percentage of total lawyers, they are more likely to occupy positions - like staff attorneys, counsel, and fixed-income equity partners - with diminished opportunity for advancement or participation in firm leadership.
Other findings of the survey include:
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Women are not credited as rainmakers - women partners are less likely as men to receive credit for even a relatively modest "book of business."
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Compensation decisions disfavor women - women at every stage of practice earn less than their male counterparts, with the biggest difference at the equity-partner level, where women earn 86% of what their male peers earn.
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Two-tier/mixed tier firms are less favorable to women - in terms of both compensation and advancement to equity partnership, women lawyers appear to be most consistently successful in one-tier firms.
Click here for the full report.
Hat tip to the Legal Skills Prof Blog.
