Women Exceed 50% Among Law Firm Associates: NALP Report

According to a research by the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), women have crossed the 50% mark among law firm associates, signalling a significant shift in the legal environment. This is the first time in the 32 years of NALP data recording that women have accomplished this milestone.

Women have made significant progress in joining the ranks of associates over the last five years, with women accounting for roughly 46% of associates in 2018. According to the most recent data, women will account for about 40% of all attorneys in law firms in 2023, the greatest percentage ever recorded by NALP.

NALP's executive director, Nikia Gray, praised the improvement but stressed that there is still more to be done, saying, "We're achieving some results, but it's nowhere near the results we need to be making."

Despite the fact that the legal sector is witnessing its most diverse workforce in three decades, progress in diversity, equality, and inclusion remains "excruciatingly slow," according to the research, which was based on surveys of 812 US law firms.

Last year, associates of colour made up more over 30% of firm associate classes, the biggest year-over-year rise reported by NALP. However, the research expressed alarm for a fall in the number of summer associates of colour, despite the fact that rates were 10 points higher six years earlier.

Law firms are struggling to retain their momentum in terms of diversity, fairness, and inclusion, especially since the Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action in June 2023. According to the research, the DEI backlash has resulted in legal threats from congressional leaders and state attorneys general, which has impacted corporations' recruiting and diversity programs.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton managing partner Michael Gerstenzang underlined the necessity of focusing on recruiting, growth, and advancement into senior roles for law firms to thrive in DEI cases. Despite advances at the associate level, the survey indicates that women of colour remain underrepresented, accounting for fewer than 5% of partners, showing "abysmally low" participation at the partnership level. Women's advancement environments are regarded as missing fair assistance throughout their careers.