The Importance of Women in Law

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The History

The first American woman lawyer was Margaret Brent. In 1648, she took the first steps on the path towards inclusivity of women in the law. More than two centuries later, in 1869 Arabella Mansfield became the first woman admitted to a state bar in the United States. This pivotal moment opened doors for many other women: Charlotte E. Ray as the first African American women lawyer and first woman admitted to the D.C. bar, Florence E. Allen as the first woman to serve on a state supreme court, Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, and so many others.

Women are becoming increasingly observable in the legal field. From 1951–2023, women in the legal profession have grown from less than 5% to 39% of attorneys in the United States. That number is still increasing little by little, and women in law school have actually grown past the percentage of men in law school. And while these numbers point to a positive outcome, there is still much to done.

The Work Needed

Women in practice are not being recognized in comparison to their male counterparts. According to a 2020 report by the National Association of Women Lawyers, while women make up nearly 50% of associates in law firms, only 22% of equity partners and 12% of managing partners are women. When it comes to wages, the statistics are equally disappointing. In 2020, women equity partners were paid 78% of male counterparts’ compensation on average. Further, between 2005 and 2020, the amount of attorneys who were paid the most in their firms actually showed men increasing from 92% to 98%.

For a better look at the statistics, please refer to this article by the American Bar Association.

The Importance

Why should you care? Supporting women in law isn’t just about uplifting the women in your life and closing the gap on gender inequality (although that should be enough), it’s also about the critical role that legal professionals play in society, ranging from the government to the court systems to businesses. The November 4, 2024 Congressional Research Service’s report showed that 30% of House members and 51% of Senators hold law degrees. When we educate law students we do not just educate future lawyers, we educate future policy makers, legislators, and decision makers.

Women in law is about so much more than practicing law; it’s about enacting change, it’s about advocacy, it’s about the future.

There is so much more to be done. Even at my law school, where I am surrounded by seemingly intelligent and thoughtful individuals, I still hear whispers of misogyny disguised as “jokes.” As women, we are constantly told to stop taking it all so seriously, but for us, it is that serious. It has never been more serious. If you are a woman in law, I commend you, I support you, and I have so much faith in you. We are working towards a better tomorrow, and although setbacks are inevitable, I remain hopeful for the future and the work we have yet to do.