Over the course of the last 155 years, women in the legal profession have realised numerous monumental firsts in the United States. From the time when the first woman was admitted to the bar in 1869, the first woman argued before the Supreme Court in 1879, and the first woman was confirmed to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court in 1981, to 2016 when women made up the majority of law school classes for the first time on record (a continued trend ever since), and finally up until 2023 when women formed the majority of law firm associates for the first time ever, significant strides have indeed been made by the female community within the legal profession. However, women in partnership level roles at law firms currently account for only 27.76% of all partners and 27% of all law firm practice group leaders.
A recent conversation with Laura Swihart, co-chair of Dechert’s global finance and real estate practice groups and a member of the firm’s policy committee, has been enlightening in understanding how this representation can be improved. Swihart emphasized the importance of keeping a keen eye on assignments and business development opportunities presented to female associates from the beginning of their careers and ensuring they are regularly included in high profile projects with strategic clients.
Advice to firms from Swihart also included a focus on encouraging female associates to begin considering partnership earlier in their careers and an emphasis on programs like those at Dechert’s which guide senior associates in planning their path to partnership. Recognizing the role professional coaching plays in honing skills of their legal teams and incorporating it as an integral part of their program is another initiative Swihart highlighted.
Lastly, Swihart points out the importance of actively promoting women to leadership roles in Biglaw firms. Not only does it foster diversity and inclusion, but studies have also shown that when junior female attorneys see women in leadership positions within their organization, it serves as a powerful motivation for them to stay and aspire to similar roles.
Original conversation published on Above The Law written by Staci Zaretsky.