Zero Tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Best Practices for Combating Sex-Based Harassment in the Legal Profession is a comprehensive update to the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession's previous sexual harassment material.
Women in the Profession
The mission of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession is to secure full and equal participation of women in the ABA, the profession and the justice system.
Resolution 300
At the 2018 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, the ABA House of Delegates passed Res. 300, introduced by the Commission on Women in the Profession. The Resolution "urges legal employers not to require mandatory arbitration of claims of sexual harassment". It contends that while arbitration may be a method of obtaining relief for many, victims who wish to use other means shouldn't be constrained from doing so as a condition of employment.
Margaret Brent Awards
The Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, established in 1991, celebrates women lawyers who have excelled in their field and have paved the way to success for other women lawyers.
Our Initiatives
The Grit Project
The Grit Project will educate women lawyers about the science behind grit and growth mindset - two important traits that many successful women lawyers have in common.
Women of Color Research Initiative
To fully examine advancement and retention issues among women attorneys of color, the Commission has engaged in this groundbreaking research initiative on diversity dynamics in the legal profession.
Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law
This initiative features innovative research on legal careers using life cycle models from the fields of sociology, social psychology, and economics. If steps are not taken to change the current trend, the percentage of women equity partners will remain stuck at under 20% for decades to come.
Bias Interrupters
This groundbreaking report was published in collaboration with the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. The report reveals the various biases that women lawyers of color and white women lawyers experience in the profession, providing recommendations to legal employers for removing institutionalized and systemic barriers to women lawyers' success.
About Us
The Commission on Women in the Profession is comprised of twelve members appointed by the ABA President. Its mission is to secure the full and equal participation of women in the ABA, the legal profession, and the justice system.
Join the ABA
As the voice of the legal community, the ABA offers career-building opportunities, advocates for the profession and promotes the rule of law world wide.
Perspectives
Read about Issues Important to Women Lawyers
Get a fresh, innovative angle on the issues that are important and relevant to women in the legal profession by subscribing to Perspectives, the magazine for and about women lawyers. ABA members can receive Perspectives in an electronic format at no additional cost.
Learn - MoreGiving to the Commission
The Commission on Women in the Profession appreciates your donations to continue our valuable work. When you give to the Fund for Justice and Education, you can designate the Commission as your preferred recipient group. We thank you in advance!
Online Toolkits
Contact Us
The Commission welcomes your feedback. Please get in touch to learn more about our programs.