Women have been making strides in the legal profession over the past few decades, breaking down barriers and challenging the gender bias that has long existed in the field. Today, there are more female lawyers than ever before, and they are making a significant impact on the legal landscape.
In this article, we will explore the experiences of women in law and examine how they are making it big in this line of work.
A Quick Look at the Stats
Historically, the legal profession has been a male-dominated field, with women facing significant obstacles in their pursuit of legal careers. However, in the past few decades, the number of female lawyers has been steadily increasing.
In 1951, around 3 percent of all legal professional holders were women. That’s a very sorry figure. However, some 70 years later, that number jumped to 38 percent. This growth has been rather steady since the 2010s. At present, women in the state Supreme Courts are making a lot of progress in terms of the numbers. They make up over 40 percent of all high-court justices.
At present, women make up more than 50 percent of all law school graduates. They are also getting picked up by all the top law firms and handling big cases, often against big corporations and entities.
Take the Camp Lejeune lawsuit as an example. Some of the best lawyers for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit are women. Using scientific and medical evidence, these lawyers are taking on the corporations that contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune and are seeking compensation for the victims of this incident.
TorHoerman Law, one of the law firms working on the Camp Lejeune case, employs several women legal assistants. Many other women are working behind the scene as well, and some are also in consideration for top leadership roles.
The number of women lawyers in terms of leadership positions at law firms is currently growing. Back in 2012, this number was just around 15 percent. At present, more than 22 percent of women hold top leadership positions at prestigious law firms.
Why This Change in Attitude Towards Women in Law?
One of the main reasons for change is the evolving attitudes toward gender roles and the increased opportunities available to women in the workplace. Moreover, there have been significant legal and policy changes that have helped to remove some of the barriers that women have historically faced in the legal profession.
Despite these advances, women still face significant challenges in the legal profession, including gender bias, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for advancement.
However, many women have found ways to overcome these obstacles and achieve success in the legal field. One example of such a woman who has managed to make it big in the legal profession is the former associate justice of the Supreme Court, the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ginsburg was a pioneering figure in the fight for women’s rights and gender equality, both as a lawyer and as a Supreme Court Justice. She was the second woman ever to be appointed to the Supreme Court and served for 27 years until her passing in 2020.
Ginsburg’s contributions to the legal profession have been significant, and she has inspired countless women to pursue careers in law. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal field and the value that women can bring to the profession.
Many young women see Ginsburg as a role model. Thus, from a young age, a lot of them grow passionate about legal affairs and choose to become lawyers when they’re older.
How Women Have Become More Than Capable of Making a Mark in the Legal Line of Work
One reason that women have been able to make such an impact in the legal profession is their ability to bring unique perspectives and experiences to their work. Women often approach legal issues with a different perspective than men, which can lead to more creative and effective solutions to legal problems. This is more visible in cases that concern women more than men, including workplace inequality, sexual harassment, etc.
Another factor that has contributed to the success of women in law is the growing number of organizations and initiatives that are focused on supporting women in the profession. These organizations provide networking opportunities, mentoring programs, and other resources that can help women to succeed in the legal field.
Such organizations provide a range of programs and resources, including career development opportunities, networking events, and advocacy efforts that help women lawyers and attorneys make their mark in this avenue.
Of course, there’s a lot more to be done when it comes to women in legal professions. There are many practical steps that women can take to succeed here. These include building strong professional networks within themselves, seeking out mentors and role models, and developing their legal skills and knowledge. Once all this is ensured, the path to successful legal professions for women will become much smoother.
