The National Association for Law Placement’s (NALP) recent report on diversity in U.S. law firms shows that the overall percentage of LGBTQ+ lawyers increased to 4.17% in 2022, roughly half a percentage point higher than in 2021 and almost 4 times the amount of LGBTQ+ attorneys reported in 2002.
Representation has increased at a more accelerated pace at the summer associate and associate levels, with LGBTQ+ summer associates reaching 9.37% of attorneys and LGBTQ+ associates increasing to 6.14% of all associates in 2022.
Despite progress, challenges remain in terms of creating welcoming and inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ+ lawyers.