33: Advancinc in the Law Part III

The advancement of women in the legal profession is undeniable. Two women currently sit on the Supreme Court. According to a study done by the National Association of Women Lawyers, women are graduating from law schools and starting careers at about the same rate as men. Additionally, a greater rate of female law school grads are promoted to the role of equity partner.

The issues come in the lack of women in leadership positions at their firms. According to the NAWL, there wer less than 16% of comen who hold the position of equity partner, and "only about 6% of law firms report that they have a woman in the highest leadership position of managing partner." Minority women still lag behind in advancement. NAWL found that there is a "greater difficulty that women of color face in moving up the law firm ranks, compared to white lawyers or male lawyers of color."

Despite the greater rate of being promoted to higher positions, like equity partner, women are promoted to the rank of equity partner at only about half the rate as men, according to the NAWL report. The ultimate kicker is an age-old problem: men still make more money than women do, in every level of law.