Based on the survey findings, the IBA has published the Raising the Bar: Women in Law – Phase 2 Report. 

The IBA LPRU used the survey to examine the factors influencing the progression of women’s careers and job retention, as well as the efficacy of workplace programmes meant to increase gender representation. Women were asked about their general experiences working in the profession, barriers to practice, reasons for staying or leaving the profession, sectoral differences, career satisfaction, the impact of life outside of work on their careers and the impact of workplace initiatives. The survey was open to women currently working in different fields of law, as well as those who had recently left the profession.

The findings include:

• flexible working arrangements were identified as the most impactful workplace schemes, with 33 per cent of respondents citing them as having the most beneficial impact on their career progression; and
• coaching and mentoring ranked second, cited by 20 per cent of respondents as the most influential initiatives in supporting their careers.

Despite this, women said existing measures do not go far enough. Survey respondents from different jurisdictions called for stronger action across several areas, including:

• greater pay equity and transparency;
• improved mental health support;
• improved support for parents and carers;
• expanded access to professional development opportunities; and
• targeted support for key life stages, including menopause and perimenopause.

Caring responsibilities remain a major pressure point. Approximately half of survey respondents have dependent children, while almost 40 per cent indicated they had caring responsibilities in addition to, or other than, childcare.

Survey responses also revealed recurring themes affecting women’s experiences in legal workplaces around the world, including:

• gender discrimination
• bullying and harassment
• balancing the pressures of work and family responsibilities
• the ongoing gender pay gap
• underrepresentation of women in leadership roles
• career burnout and
• the importance of mentorship and support networks in retaining talent.

Respondents also expressed a strong desire for greater diversity and inclusion across all areas of legal practice.

The report sets out a series of recommendations reviewed by an advisory panel, comprising members from across IBA committees and the IBA Bar Issues Commission. These recommendations are directed at legal workplaces, professional bodies and individual members of the profession.

In the report’s foreword, immediate-past IBA president Jaime Carey and current IBA president Claudio Visco write: “We invite readers to engage closely with the findings and recommendations of this report. Raising the bar to achieve an inclusive and equitable legal profession is an ongoing endeavour, requiring leadership, collaboration and sustained attention.

“Through initiatives such as this, the IBA reaffirms its commitment to supporting a profession that is independent, inclusive and equipped to meet the demands of a changing world.”