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Women comprised 47% of graduating lawyers in 2011 and 45% of the first- and second-year associates at the top 200 American law firms, according to the National Association of Women Lawyers. Female associates’ salaries are 99% of male associates’ salaries; however, they receive only 40% of the bonuses men receive. In a typical firm, female associates bill 2,127 total hours and do 39 hours of pro bono work; male associates do 2,160 total hours and do 32 hours of pro bono work.
Eight in 10 law firms (80%) have female staff attorneys (full-time lawyers who are not on the partner track). The average firm employs 11 staff attorneys, 70% of whom are women. Firms have 54 counsel attorneys, 35% of whom are women. Women hold only 20% of the positions on law firms’ highest governance committees, and only 4% of firms have a woman as the firm-wide managing partner.
Source: National Association of Women Lawyers, Barbara Flom, Secretary, Foundation, American Bar Center MS 21.1, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654; 312-949-9544; barbflom@gmail.com; www.nawl.org.
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