Red Bee Principals Roberta Liebenberg and Stephanie Scharf and authored a first-of-its-kind report, jointly issued by the American Bar Association and ALM Intelligence, which describes the reasons why experienced women are far more likely than men to leave the private practice of law. “Walking Out the Door: The Facts, Figures, and Future of Experienced Women Lawyers in Private Practice,” reports on a national survey of men, women and managing partners from the nation’s 500 largest firms. Among a range of findings, women are significantly more likely to report everyday episodes that block their “access to success,” including access to business development opportunities, being perceived as less committed to career, being denied or overlooked for promotion, and more. Walking Out the Door also recommends data-based best practices for law firms to retain and advance experienced women lawyers.
ABA President Judy Perry Martinez praised the report as “anchored in research” with “the potential to serve as a basis for profound change.” She added, “women lawyers stay where women lawyers know that the culture, policies and practices drive success and career satisfaction.”
A copy of Walking Out the Door is at this link.