What is the gender breakdown of lawyers in the US?
Asked by: Brent Parisian PhD | Last update: October 5, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (75 votes)
Lawyers by gender Over the past decade, the percentage of lawyers who are women has grown. It stood at 36% in 2014 and grew to 41% a decade later in 2024. In other words, male attorneys still outnumber female attorneys (58% to 41%), but the gap is narrowing.
What percentage of US lawyers are female?
Overall, male lawyers still outnumber women attorneys in the U.S. at 59% to 41%, the ABA found. But the proportion of women has increased from 36% in 2014 — a five percentage-point gain over the past decade.
What are the gender stats for lawyers?
Women make up 41% of all lawyers in 2024, up 5% from 2014. Illinois slightly trails the national average, with women making up almost 39% of lawyers. While males still account for 59% of U.S. lawyers, the report said current trends suggest the number of female lawyers will continue to rise.
What percentage of lawyers are LGBT?
Fast fact: 8.4% of law firm summer associates describe themselves as LGBTQ – more than double the percentage of all law firm lawyers who describe themselves as LGBTQ (3.7%)
What percentage of lawyers make $500,000 a year?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for lawyers in 2022 was $135,740, with only the top 1% surpassing the $500,000 mark. So, what sets apart that elite 1%?
Gender Inequality in the Legal Profession | The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
How much do top 1% lawyers make?
— How do we know how much do lawyers make? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.
Is 700k a good salary?
Earning $700,000 a year would put your household in the top 1% nationwide — and well above the middle class — and in any state in the South or Midwest. But that still won't cut it in seven states. The Northeast dominates the rankings, with five of the 10 states with the highest 1% thresholds lying in this region.
Who are lawyers most likely to marry?
Of course, the first profession I looked at was lawyers. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that most lawyers marry other lawyers. But male lawyers also marry schoolteachers, secretaries, and miscellaneous managers. And lesbian lawyers marry people in other computer occupations.
Is law a male-dominated field?
It's a meaningful change, although men still dominate the upper echelons of the legal profession through federal judgeships, state supreme courts, law firm partnerships and corporate counsel positions. There are still many more male lawyers than female lawyers in the United States, but that is changing, too.
How many lawyers have affairs?
Love and Law: 51% of Lawyers Polled Have Had an Office Affair. Who says the law isn't sexy? In Vault's annual Office Romance survey, 51% of attorneys reported that they had been part of an office romance.
How old are most lawyers?
The legal profession skews older than most occupations in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median age for lawyers was 46 years old in 2023, which means half were younger and half older.
What is a stereotype about lawyers?
People love to make assumptions about attorneys: aggressive, workaholic, dishonest, etc. We've all heard the multitude of stereotypes surrounding this profession, and while a lot of it isn't true, I think we all know a few attorneys who could fill these shoes.
Is there a gender pay gap for lawyers?
Median weekly earnings
A female lawyer earns 81 cents for every $1 earned by a male lawyer. One of the reasons there is such a significant gender pay gap among lawyers is that women are underrepresented at the uppermost tiers of law firms.
Is there a shortage of lawyers in us?
One of the primary reasons for California's lawyer shortage may be the decline in law school enrollments. Compared to the peak enrollment year of 2010, enrollments in JD programs in 2023 were down over 20%. The high cost of legal education and the burden of student debt are likely detering many potential candidates.
What is the average lawyer USA?
Lawyers made a median salary of $145,760 in 2023. The best-paid 25% made $217,360 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $98,030.
Are female lawyers discriminated against?
According to an ABA and ALM survey, 67 percent of women lawyers report a lack of access to business development opportunities (compared to only 10 percent of men); 53 percent of women have been denied or overlooked for advancement or promotion (compared to only 7 percent of men); and 40 percent of women report a lack ...
What job is the most male-dominated?
Various studies show the most male-dominated industries include construction and building, vehicle technicians or mechanics, or carpenters, where the share of women is only 1–2%. Female-dominated jobs include preschool and kindergarten teachers, nursing, or secretarial positions.
Why are most paralegals female?
And, back then, the legal industry employed women primarily as legal secretaries; the early paralegals were, in fact, highly and specially trained legal secretaries. It is understandable, then, that the term “paralegal” has been connected primarily with professional women rather than men.
What major is most male-dominated?
In general, some majors that tend to be male-dominated include those in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Do lawyers get laid a lot?
California has the highest average salary for lawyers, only being surpassed by the District of Columbia, where lawyers command an average annual salary of $226,510. This figure is approximately $138,000 more than the average salary of a lawyer in Wyoming, which is currently the lowest-paying state for lawyers.
What profession do most doctors marry?
Male physicians and surgeons are most likely to marry female physicians and surgeons or male registered nurses.
Do lawyers have a higher divorce rate?
Attorneys are much more likely to get divorced than people in other careers, especially attorneys in big law. There are many reasons for this, but it boils down to one major issue. Attorneys spend more time and energy on their law firm relationship than their relationship with their spouse.
What salary is upper class?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2022 was $74,580. To reach the upper class in 2024, you'd typically need an income exceeding $153,000 – more than double the national median. Don't Miss: Are you rich?
Can I afford a 700k house with 100k salary?
To afford a $700,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $175,000 to $235,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions. However, this is a general range, and your specific circumstances will determine the exact income required.
Is 200k a year considered rich?
Is $200,000 a Year Considered Rich? There's no standard definition of “rich,” though most people would certainly consider a single person making $200,000 to be well-off. But again, where you live — and the cost of living there — play a role. Another way to think about what “rich” means is to calculate your net worth.