• Women now comprise a majority of law firm associates and more than 40% of U.S. attorneys.

• Women first outnumbered men in law schools in 2016, representing 56% of law students by 2023.

• Despite gains, women remain underrepresented in law firm partnerships, holding just 28% of partner positions.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) 2024 Profile of the Legal Profession reveals a historic shift in the gender composition of the legal field, with women achieving notable milestones in law schools, firms, and the federal government, according to a Reuters report.

A Decade of Progress

• The ABA has dubbed 2016 to 2026 the “Decade of the Female Lawyer,” as women continue to make steady inroads into the profession.

• Women first outnumbered men at ABA-accredited law schools in 2016. 

• By 2023, women accounted for 56% of law students—65,000 compared to 50,000 men. The pipeline of female talent has translated into more women entering the profession.

• Today, 41% of U.S. attorneys are women, up from 36% in 2014. 

• While men still make up the majority of practicing lawyers (59%), the ABA projects that gender parity could be reached within 20 years if current trends continue.

Gains in Law Firms

One of the most significant milestones was reached in 2023 when women outnumbered men among law firm associates for the first time, according to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).

• Women have steadily increased their share of associate positions since 1991, when they made up 38% of associates. 

• However, progress at the partnership level has been slower. Women accounted for just 28% of law firm partners in 2023, an all-time high but still far from equal representation, the NALP said.

A Shift in the Federal Government

Women attorneys have also made notable gains in the federal government. Since 2020, women have outnumbered men in federal attorney positions, now comprising nearly 52% of this workforce.

The gender balance varies across federal agencies:

• Men still dominate at the Department of Justice, where they make up 54% of attorneys. 

• In contrast, women represent 55% of lawyers at the Department of Homeland Security and 60% or more of the attorney workforce in departments such as Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor.

Academia on the Brink of Parity

Women also continue to expand their presence in legal academia. In 2023, they made up 49% of full-time faculty at ABA-accredited law schools. 

The ABA expects women to become a majority of law school professors in the coming years, marking another important step toward gender equality in the profession.