The 2019 Law360 Glass Ceiling Report

(May 30, 2019, 4:58 PM EDT) -- Our annual survey of the largest U.S. law firms again shines a light on the lack of parity for female attorneys in private practice.

Though women now make up more than half of law school students, the Glass Ceiling Report shows they continue to be underrepresented at all levels of a typical law firm and that their numbers dwindle as they move up the ranks, down to less than a quarter of partners with a financial stake.

Overall, firms are faring considerably less well than private companies and academia at placing women in leadership roles.

But firm by firm, numbers can make a difference. This year's report reveals the top firms for female attorneys and female equity partners. We also asked five high-profile female attorneys to share tips on succeeding in practice areas still largely controlled by men, and took our cameras into the offices and homes of two BigLaw attorneys who are making it work as both lawyers and moms.


FEATURES & ANALYSIS
The Best Law Firms For Female Attorneys
While the latest Glass Ceiling Report again shows marginal gains for women in private practice, some firms are demonstrably forging a path to parity for female attorneys. Here are the law firms leading the way.

The Best Law Firms For Female Partners
Law360's annual Glass Ceiling report again showed little progress has been made in the upper echelons of the legal profession to provide equal opportunities for women.

Glass Ceiling Slow To Break For Female Attys In 2018
Our latest survey of the largest U.S. law firms shows the barriers to equality for women increase as they rise up the ranks. Here's our breakdown of the data from this year's Glass Ceiling Report.

In The March Toward Parity, Law Firms Fall Behind
Promotion rates for women at law firms may be inching up, but in the march toward gender parity in the profession, other sectors of the legal industry are making greater strides, recent data shows.

5 Attorneys On Being The Only Woman In The Room
Female attorneys are underrepresented throughout the legal industry, but in some practice areas, they often find they are literally the only woman in the room. Here, Law360 hears from five top women on what it's like to still be considered a rare sight in their field.

Can You Spot The Gender Disparity? A Guide To Implicit Bias
Women's recent inroads into the top ranks of law firms are paltry at best, Law360's Glass Ceiling data shows. A top culprit for the limited progress in gender equality? Implicit bias, experts say.

VIDEO
Motherhood & Making Partner: The View From 2 BigLaw Moms
In a Law360 original video, two BigLaw attorneys reflect on being mothers while trying to make partner in a culture that has made slow progress towards increasing female representation in the highest ranks.

PODCAST
Law360's Pro Say: Will The Glass Ceiling Ever Break?
For years women have been looking around their law firms and seeing mostly men in leadership. When will things change? On the latest episode of Law360's Pro Say podcast we discuss our annual Glass Ceiling report, which reveals a glacial pace for increased gender parity in the law and we talk to one prominent female attorney who managed to crack the glass ceiling.

GRAPHIC
What 12 Gender Bias Complaints Say About BigLaw
Law360 looks at a dozen gender bias suits against law firms to see where their complaints dovetail — and where they veer apart. Together, the suits offer a window into the top gender equity hurdles facing the legal industry.

FROM OUR EXPERTS
Millennials Are Pushing Back Against Law Firm Sexism
A recent survey of millennial attorneys shows men and women are having very different BigLaw experiences, but share similar goals. It's imperative that partners recognize that they're the ones in a position to change the culture, says Michelle Fivel of Major Lindsey.

For a reprint of this article, please contact reprints@law360.com.

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