The underrepresentation of women in the legal profession remains a persistent issue despite significant strides toward gender equality. The historic appointment of Sandra Day O’Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981 marked a pivotal moment, breaking centuries-old gender barriers within the highest echelons of legal jurisprudence. Yet, this milestone, while monumental, underscores the recent nature of women’s integration into top legal positions, including those of women of color, whose representation remains even more scarce.
In the landscape of law firms, the disparity is stark. According to a McKinsey & Co. report titled “Women in Law Firms,” women hold merely 26% of seats on law firm boards of directors. The gender gap widens at the leadership level, with men outnumbering women nearly 3 to 1 on these boards, and women of color representing a mere 4% of these positions.
