Fifty-one law firms were recognized for having 50 percent or more women in their 2019 US-based new partner class. The firms, recognised as “tipping the scales,” were identified through the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s New Partner Report, a compilation of public data and self-reported sources released each year for the past eight years.

Significant increases

The report revealed that 41.3 percent of new partners in 138 major US law firms in 2019 were women, surpassing last year’s mark by 2.4 percentage points. The report also found that the percentage of women promoted to partnership in major U.S. law firms has increased by 8.1 percent since 2012. Additionally, a larger share of firms have attained a 50/50 split or greater of women in the new partner class than in previous years. The fifty-one firms with 50 percent or more women in their 2019 new partner class represented 37 percent of the firms in the study. This is an increase from the 2018 figure of 31.3 percent and also represents a significant increase over previous years.

More needs

“We are encouraged to see the overall increase in the percentage of women in new partner classes in 2019 and are thrilled to recognise those firms that are “tipping the scales,” said Manar Morales, president & ceo of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “Despite this progress, we continue to recognise the need for firms to commit to a more intentional and proactive strategy to retain and advance women.” The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance is a think tank that collaborates with organizations to develop non-stigmatized flexible work policies that promote inclusive work cultures and help to advance more women into leadership positions.