The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession has issued its 2016 Goal III Report, which tracks the trend of women in ABA leadership positions. The first Report Card in 1991 reported women’s membership in the ABA and their representation in the profession at 22 percent. Women now constitute 32.3 percent of the approximately 313,000 lawyer members of the ABA and 35 percent of the legal profession.
July 09, 2016
2016 Report Tracking Women in ABA Leadership Positions Now Available
The Commission has found that, while the overall trend from 1991 to 2016 in the percentage of women holding ABA leadership positions is upward, the rate of increase has remained relatively static or slightly decreased in recent years. However, the Commission is pleased to report that for 2015–2016, the percentage of women in ABA leadership positions increased with respect to the House of Delegates, state delegates to the House, state bar delegates, House committees and nominating committee, the Board of Governors, forum chairs and officers, and Section/Division chairs, officers, and nominating committees. This increase is noteworthy, notwithstanding that it is too early to determine whether these changes truly are indicative of permanent improvement.
Download the full report from the Commission’s website at www.ambar.org/Goal3Women.