2020 Equity Project Study on Gender Gap in Law

The 2020 Equity Project study is a report that investigates how general counsel (GCs) and senior in-house lawyers influence law firms to address the gender gap in the legal profession. It highlights the findings from interviews with over 75 legal professionals from large companies across 12 countries. The study reveals that while many GCs recognize the importance of gender diversity, a significant number lack awareness regarding how origination credit is awarded, which affects their hiring decisions. The report notes that 80% of companies do not have formal policies requiring law firms to meet gender diversity standards. Additionally, it emphasizes the business case for diversity, as many GCs believe that women litigators perform equally well or even more efficiently than their male counterparts. The report also discusses the barriers to achieving gender diversity in law and suggests that collaboration between law firms and their clients is essential for fostering change. Overall, the study calls for increased transparency and proactive measures to close the gender gap in the legal field.