Women make up majority of law firm associates for the first time: "Real change is slow."

Women now make up the majority of associates in U.S. law firms for the first time, according to data released Tuesday by the National Association for Law Placement, which first began tracking law firm data in 1991.

In 2023, women comprised 50.31% of law associates in the U.S. They also reported greater strides at the partnership level, but still make up only 27.76% of all partners — a 1.1% increase from the previous year.

"NALP began tracking law firm diversity data in 1991, 121 years after the first woman graduated law school in the United States. At that time, women accounted for only a little over 38% of law firm associates," said NALP's Executive Director, Nikia L. Gray.