Female Lawyers Overworked, Underpaid

Women lawyers work longer hours but bill fewer, earn less money than their male counterparts, and get less credit for generating business, according to a new study written by four Stanford law students. The white paper found that women make up just 18 percent of equity partners at law firms, and five percent of managing partners. In addition, part-time work is stigmatized, and women lawyers command lower billing rates “for reasons that are not immediately apparent.” Female lawyers also earn less than their male counterparts: female associates earn 93 percent of their male counterparts’ salaries; female of counsel 91 percent; female non-equity partners 96 percent; and female equity partners just 80 percent. The study recommended future research focus on why so few female lawyers are lateral hires, whether women are given lower quality work assignments, and whether mentoring programs are being implemented ineffectively.