Over the years, have you noticed a change in your firm? Because the data shows that the demographics are changing in ways that should inspire a future generation of lawyers and enrage the likes of Stephen Miller: on average, male associates are now the minority at law firms.

From Reuters:

In a major shift, new figures show that more women were employed as associates at U.S. law firms than men in 2023.

Survey data released on Tuesday by the National Association for Law Placement show that 50.3% of U.S. associates were women last year, marking the first time women outnumbered men.

The change in law firm demographics isn’t too surprising once you factor in the law schools feeding them — women have outnumbered men there for the last 8 years. The skew changes as you go higher up the ranks; even the firms with the most female equity partners still have a way to go.

Cheers to your successes! The more the profession diversifies, the better. Godspeed as well — I recommend that firms interested in making actual commitments to growing the number of female employees act swiftly before the Overton Window shifts to the point that it’s acceptable to sue the state bar because too much of the dues go to helping women succeed.

Most US Law Firm Associates Were Women In 2023, Survey Shows [Reuters]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.