On 3 December 2024, the International Bar Association (IBA), in collaboration with the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation, launched its Interim Report on the 50:50 by 2030 – gender disparity in the law project. The event brought together senior and emerging female leaders to discuss gender representation at the highest levels of the legal profession.
The 50:50 by 2030 Project, launched by the IBA in 2021, is an initiative aimed at identifying barriers to gender parity in legal leadership and developing strategies to achieve equal representation by women at senior levels of the profession by 2030. The Interim Report, covering 12 jurisdictions across five continents, provides a comprehensive analysis of gender disparities in senior legal positions and evaluates the effectiveness of various gender equality initiatives.
The report reveals that women constitute 47% of lawyers globally but hold only 38% of senior positions. Countries with the highest representation of women in law include Chile, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, while South Korea, Mexico, and Nigeria rank the lowest. Gender gaps in leadership remain significant, particularly in Chile, Spain, and England & Wales. The public sector shows greater gender parity, with 49% of lawyers and 41% of senior roles occupied by women, whereas law firms lag behind, with only 30% of senior positions held by women.
The report identifies structural barriers limiting women’s career progression, including unconscious biases, workplace culture favouring male leadership, lack of mentorship programs, rigid career structures, and caregiving responsibilities. While awareness of gender inequality has grown, the slow adoption of progressive policies continues to hinder progress.
The study also assesses the impact of gender equality initiatives. Flexible working arrangements are found to be the most effective in retaining female talent, while leadership training and mentoring have helped prepare women for senior roles. In contrast, quota-setting, though effective in theory, remains unpopular, and unconscious bias training is widely implemented but largely ineffective.
In her forward to the report, the (then) IBA President Almudena Arpón de Mendívil emphasized that while progress is evident, it remains slow and fragile. She called for decisive action beyond awareness, advocating for structural reforms, leadership accountability, and tailored policies to address disparities across different legal sectors.
Looking ahead, the IBA plans to expand its research in 2025, launching Phase 2 of the 50:50 by 2030 Project, which will include a global survey to gather insights from legal professionals at all career stages. The next phase aims to assess the effectiveness of gender equality initiatives and refine strategies to close the leadership gap.
The IBA’s 50:50 by 2030 Project serves as a critical benchmark for tracking gender progress in the legal profession. While some improvements have been made, the report underscores the urgent need for concrete actions to ensure equal opportunities for women in legal leadership.