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| ABA Commission on Women in the Profession | |
|---|---|
| Name | ABA Commission on Women in the Profession |
| Formation | 1987 |
| Type | Commission |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Parent organization | American Bar Association |
ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is a policy and advocacy body of the American Bar Association focused on gender equity, professional development, and institutional reform within legal institutions such as courts, law firms, and academic faculties. It engages with actors across the legal ecosystem, including state bar associations, law schools, corporate legal departments, and judicial councils, to study barriers and promote practices that support retention, advancement, and leadership of women attorneys.
The commission was established amid broader reform efforts that followed initiatives by actors like National Association of Women Lawyers, American Association of University Women, National Organization for Women, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and advocacy surrounding statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and litigation milestones including Reed v. Reed. Its early work intersected with developments in legal education at institutions like Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, and Columbia Law School, and responded to empirical studies from centers such as the American Bar Foundation and the Pew Research Center. The commission has convened panels featuring figures associated with the U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Judicial Center, Department of Justice, and state judiciaries like the California Supreme Court and the New York Court of Appeals. Throughout administrations from Ronald Reagan to Joe Biden, it adapted to shifting priorities reflected by professional bodies like the National Conference of Bar Examiners and regulatory changes in jurisdictions including New York (state) and California.
The commission’s mission aligns with strategic goals promoted by entities such as the American Bar Association House of Delegates, ABA Section of Litigation, and ABA Young Lawyers Division. Objectives include addressing disparities documented in reports by the National Association for Law Placement, promoting leadership pathways akin to programs at Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford Law School, and influencing policy debates involving institutions like the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Personnel Management. It collaborates with professional networks such as Women in Law Empowerment Forum and academic partners including University of Chicago Law School and Georgetown University Law Center to advance metrics and benchmarks used by employers like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Sullivan & Cromwell, and corporate legal departments at firms like Microsoft and ExxonMobil.
The commission administers programs that mirror initiatives from organizations such as American Association of Law Schools and National Bar Association. Initiatives include mentorship schemes similar to those offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America style pairings, leadership academies reflecting pedagogy from Harvard Business School, and summit convenings with stakeholders from the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Federal Judges Association. Collaborative projects have involved partners including National Women's Law Center, Legal Services Corporation, ABA Pro Bono Center, and affinity groups such as Lambda Legal and BNA (The Bureau of National Affairs). The commission has promoted toolkits for law firms and courts inspired by model rules from the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and benchmarking practices used by consulting firms like McKinsey & Company and Deloitte.
The commission’s outputs include empirical reports, policy briefs, and practice guides that parallel scholarship published by outlets such as Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, and the ABA Journal. Major publications reference data sources like the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the U.S. Census Bureau, and analyses by the American Bar Foundation. Reports have been cited in briefs before tribunals including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and informed Congressional hearings involving members of United States Senate committees and panels convened by the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. The commission’s publications have also been leveraged by legal educators at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, and New York University School of Law.
The commission’s work influenced policy reforms adopted by bar associations such as the State Bar of California and corporate governance changes at corporations like Johnson & Johnson and Goldman Sachs. Its recommendations have helped diversify leadership visible in arenas including the U.S. Supreme Court, state supreme courts, and general counsels at multinational firms including IBM and Google. Critics—drawing from analyses seen in publications like The Wall Street Journal and reports by groups such as Cato Institute—have argued about measurement methods and unintended consequences, echoing disputes similar to debates over affirmative action reviewed in Fisher v. University of Texas and Regents of the University of California v. Bakke. The commission has responded through revisions modeled on stakeholder engagement practices used by organizations such as International Labour Organization and OECD.
The commission comprises appointees drawn from leadership circles that include former judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, partners from firms like Latham & Watkins and Jones Day, professors from Georgetown University Law Center and Stanford Law School, and representatives of groups like National Association of Women Judges and ABA Section of Litigation. Governance follows ABA procedures similar to those for the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility with oversight from the ABA Board of Governors. Chairs and vice-chairs have included alumni of programs at Harvard Law School and practitioners formerly associated with agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Institutes of Health.
Notable projects include longitudinal studies akin to those by the American Bar Foundation, collaborative summits reminiscent of events hosted by the Aspen Institute, and benchmarking tools used by firms cited in the Vault Law 100. Awards and recognitions have been presented in partnership with entities like the National Association of Women Lawyers and featured honorees such as deans from Columbia Law School, partners from Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and jurists from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The commission’s accolades and project outputs have influenced programming at conferences run by The American Lawyer, Law360, and academic symposia at institutions like Duke University School of Law.
Category:American Bar Association Category:Women in law