Women Partners & Associates Earn Less and Have Lower Rates
New research confirms a persistent gender bias in the legal profession. Although they all start out at the same pay as male lawyers, women associates, non-equity partners and equity partners earn a lower average total compensation than their male counterparts, according to the ALM Legal Intelligence 2011 Survey of Law Firm Economics.
Furthermore, women lawyers have lower billing rates across the board than male lawyers, the report finds. The same survey last year also found that Women Lawyers Have Lower Billing Rates than Men. This year's survey contains information from 12,952 lawyers including 4,535 associates, 7,306 partners/shareholders (equity and non-equity), 772 active counsels, and 339 staff lawyers working in 202 U.S. law firms.
The glass ceiling that prevents women from advancing in their careers as fast as men remains solidly in place.
The average total compensation for a woman equity partner is $312,507, compared with $396,572 for a male equity partner. The average total compensation for a female associate is $132,510, compared with $142,752 for a male associate. Even when comparing median total compensation, women lawyers earn less than male lawyers at every level. The number of billable hours worked did not differ significantly between male and female lawyers.
Females have consistently lower average billing rates than males, across all firm sizes and titles. The average standard hourly rate for a woman equity partner is $339, compared with $369 for an equal-ranking male. The average rate for a female non-equity partner is $329, compared with $363 for non-equity male partners. The average rate for a female associate is $236, compared with $243 for a male associate.
Copies of the report can be purchased at Lawcatalog.com.
