The International Bar Association has published a new global report drawing on survey responses from 5,000 women working in the legal profession across 100 jurisdictions. It identifies persistent structural barriers to senior leadership, as well as widespread burnout and continuing gender inequality, notwithstanding growing attention to diversity and inclusion within the profession.
The report points to recurring themes including gender discrimination, bullying and harassment, balancing work and family responsibilities, the ongoing gender pay gap, underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, and career burnout. It also finds that flexible working arrangements and coaching or mentoring were among the most effective forms of support for career progression, while many respondents said existing measures do not go far enough.
These findings suggest that progress in support measures and awareness has not removed the barriers affecting women’s progression to senior roles. The report therefore offers a broad comparative picture of the continuing obstacles shaping women’s experience across the global legal profession.