2020/2021 Law Firm Comparison Project
The 2020/2021 Report shows that leadership of law firms is remaining male dominated, despite women making up more than half the profession (and over half of law graduates for many years). Unfortunately, since our last report, the number of female chairs fell to only six, and the number of male chairs rose
to 87.
On the positive side, firms with female CEOs increased from six to eleven and female director numbers increased from 24% to 26.5% overall.
The overall trends in partnership ranks show that there was a marked reduction in the number of firms where women make up less than 20% of partners. There was an increase in the number of firms with more than 30% women partners.
Please click here to read the 2022/2021 Law Firm Comparison Report
Please click here for the Press Release.
2019 Law Firm Comparison Project
It’s not about the women – firms should be examining their structure and culture
In 2018 WLANSW called on the legal profession to expedite the advancement of women in private practice in the profession by committing to a number of concrete measures including setting targets for partner admission, undertaking regular gender remuneration analysis, and encouraging men to take up parental leave and flexible work arrangements.
The WLANSW 2019 Law Firm Comparison report, now in its 7th year is based on analysis of data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency and other public sources. The report shows that the firms that have adopted some of these measures are making progress on gender equality, and although it is slow, there has been improvement over time in the number of firms with higher female partner percentages.
Please click here for the WLANSW Law Firm Comparison Report 2019
Please click here for the WLANSW Law Firm Comparison Chart.
Please click here for the WLANSW Leading Practice Guide.
Please click here for the Press Release.
2018 Law Firm Comparison Report – Analysis of the latest figures on the advancement of women in law firms, and reflections on the Future of Women’s Work.
The launch hosted at University of Sydney Business School on the 24 October, included an overview of recent research conducted by the University of Sydney in the Australian Women’s Working Futures Project.
This project is the sixth time this analysis has been conducted by the Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales (WLANSW) since 2012. This year’s analysis and has been greatly enhanced by the selection of the project by the University of Sydney Policy Lab as one of its inaugural policy research projects.
Please click here for the full report.
Please click here for the WLANSW-WGEA Statistical Report
Please click here to view the presentation.
Please click here for the Press Release.
Please click here for the WLANSW Submission to WGEA re data collection
WLANSW 2017 Law Firm Comparison Data Launch &
‘Advancement of Women in Law Firms: Best Practice’
Pilot Research Project – 19th September 2017
‘Law Firm Comparison Data’ Project
This is the fifth time that Women Lawyers’ Association of New South Wales (WLANSW) has conducted an analysis of a range of measures that track the progress of women in law firms. While some progress is being made, it is still very slow, and the latest measures we have looked at show that practical measures like gender pay analysis and equitable briefing practices are not being universally adopted. In conducting this analysis, we are highlighting best practice in those leading law firms and shining a light on what is happening within the profession to progress gender equality.
For the first time, there are as many female lawyers in the legal profession as male lawyers. This change has taken some time to achieve, even though women have consistently made up a greater percentage of university graduates.
Please click here for the full report.
Please click here for the Law Firm Comparison Table.
Please click here to view the event photo gallery.
‘Advancement of Women in Law Firms: Best Practice’
This report documents the findings of a pilot research project investigating current best practices, operating within national law firms in Australia, that support women lawyers in their advancement to partnership and other leadership positions. The project responds to the significant under-representation of women in senior positions within the legal profession, and their higher rates of attrition. Please click here for the full report
WLANSW 2016 Law Firm Comparison Data Launch, 13th October 2016
The introduction of more comprehensive reporting requirements to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has meant that there is more information publicly available about a wider range of law firms, the gender composition of their workforces, and their diversity and inclusion practices. In 2016 we have looked at publicly available information to compare law firms on a range of measures. The data set is not comprehensive, as it does not capture all firms, and not all have to report to the WGEA due to their size, but the analysis of the available information paints a picture of a profession that is moving slowly towards gender equality, with some work still to be done.
We are excited about our partnership with the University of Wollongong Legal Intersections Research Centre who are conducting a pilot project which involves building on the law firm comparison data by interviewing lawyers from managing partners to junior lawyers and investigating current best practices. Professor Nan Seuffert was a panelist at the function on 13th October 2016.
Please click here for the report and Press Release.
Please click here for the WLANSW 2016 Law Firm Comparison Data Table.
Best Workplaces for Women Highlighted in 2015 Law Firm Comparison Data by Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW
Gender reporting shines a light on what is happening in law firms, and although progress is being made, there is still a way to go. The 2015 Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW (WLANSW) Law Firm Comparison project conducted by the WLANSW Workplace Practices Subcommittee, highlights exactly where progress has been made, and the firms that are making it, on a range of indicators including partnership composition, parental leave and pipeline statistics.
Since 2013, when WLANSW last conducted its Law Firm Comparison project, the introduction of more comprehensive reporting requirements to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has meant that there is more information publically available about a wider range of law firms, the gender composition of their workforces, and their diversity and inclusion practices.
Please click here for the report and Press Release
Please click here for the WLANSW 2015 Law Firm Comparison Data Table.
2013 Law Firm Comparison Data Updated by Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW
The Women Lawyers’ Association of New South Wales (WLANSW) has updated its consolidation of publicly available information about law firms and the gender profile of solicitors in these firms into one readily accessible table to monitor the progress of women in leadership positions in the profession, particularly private practice.
For the first time this year, WLANSW also asked firms to disclose details of their paid parental leave schemes. Please click here for the Press Release 27 November 2013, and click here for the Law Firm Comparison Table 2013
Law Firm Comparison Data Launched by Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW (WLANSW)
The Workplace Practices Subcommittee of WLANSW has consolidated publicly available information about law firms and the gender profile of solicitors in these firms into one readily accessible table to assist lawyers in making decisions about their employment, and to promote discussion and debate about the advancement of women in the profession.
The data disclosed has been collated in categories such as:
- Women as a percentage of partners, both total and equity;
- Level of paid parental leave offered by the firms;
- Whether the firms are Employers of Choice as recognised by the Equal Opportunity of Women in the Workforce Agency; and
- Whether the firms are corporate members of WLANSW.
Please click here to view the PR_LawFirmComparisonData_0 8 November 2012; please click here to view the Comparison Data Table.
See our Submissions & Reports page for more information.
The Power of Two’ Job-Share Resource Guide Launch
Job-sharing is a type of flexible working arrangement that can offer women more potential for career advancement than part-time roles.
The Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW is proud to support this initiative in conjunction with ProfessionalMums.net and we are delighted to make available the e-booklet of ‘The Power of Two’ Job-Share Resource Guide.
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