Only 22% of equity partners at law firms are women, compared to 61% of trainees. Research by Thomson Reuters and Acritas, published this week, identified some successful initiatives: for example, 69% of firms have a board level representative who focuses on diversity, and 60% of firms have voluntarily added partners into their gender pay gap reporting.
The research, ‘Transforming women’s leadership in the law’, was conducted with 48 leading UK and European law firms. Nearly half (46%) the firms include a representative gender balance in all pitches to potential clients; 30% ensure a representative gender balance on all client teams; and 42% ensure slates of candidates up for promotion are gender balanced.
It identified three themes vital to success: make gender diversity a strategic goal and pursue it by setting targets, tracking progress and appointing a board representative; ensure female lawyers get sufficient client exposure and access to a wide range of work; and reconsider ‘women-only’ initiatives and check mentors are giving the right advice.
Interestingly, the researchers found that some initiatives correlate with less success: for example, women-only networks did not improve progress whereas opening those networks up to include men had a more positive impact. Similarly, the research suggested advice given by mentors can sometimes put women off the partnership track rather than provide encouragement.
Lisa Hart Shepherd, CEO of Acritas, said: ‘The research has delivered some surprising insights that are consistent with broader diversity research which suggests some diversity programs have a negative effect.
‘It is important for firms to take a step back and review their portfolio of initiatives and check that they are working holistically to positive effect in their current form.’
Last week, the Law Society, Bar Council, The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, firms and chambers launched a Women in Law pledge, promising to support the promotion of women into senior roles, to set an action plan and targets, and to publicly report on progress.
The Law Society also published its ‘International Women in Law’ report, a global study on female lawyers across the globe. It identified unequal remuneration, a lack of flexible working and traditional gender roles and stereotypes as some of the key challenges faced by female lawyers.
Law Society president Christina Blacklaws said the research found ‘significant barriers to progression’.
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