CWL No Glass Ceiling Initiative

Committed to the continued advancement and promotion of women in the legal profession, CWL joined and lead in the No Glass Ceiling Initiative

CWL is committed to promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession. While approximately 50% of the law school graduates are women, advancement of women lawyers has not reflected the vast number of women entering the legal profession.

In 1993, the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) found that women made up just 12.27% of all partners nationwide. Ten years later, in 2003, the percentage of women partners had only risen to 16.3%, while 42.42% of the law firm’s associates were women. CWL’s mission is to increase the representation of women in firm partnership and management ranks to 50%, consistent with the percentage of women law students graduating from law schools.

In 2003, CWL embarked on a statewide effort to extend the commitments advanced by the Bar Associaiton of San Francisco’s No Glass Ceiling Task Force. CWL’s No Glass Ceiling Initiative asks firms to make a "Committment" to take the following steps: 

  • Have at least 25% women at the partnership level.
  • Have at least one female practice group chair or managing partner for large, multi-office firms.
  • Increase retention of women lawyers.
  • Embrace the concepts of part-time partners and flexible work schedules.

Since the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) adopted the “No Glass Ceiling” initiative in 2002, numerous California law firms, and corporate and governmental agencies have committed to the important goal of breaking barriers for women lawyers to advance to leadership positions in the profession. In BASF’s 2005 survey of firms who have signed the Commitment, twenty-eight (28) reported an average 18% increase in women partners and a 26% increase in the number of women in management positions.

Former CWL President and California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet was honored by the ABA in 2007 with the prestigious Margaret Brent Award for her outstanding work in establishing and expanding the No Glass Ceiling Initiative throughout California. Women Lawyers of Sacramento has also set up a similar No Glass Ceiling Initiative to encourage law firms to promote the advancement of women lawyers to leadership positions.

CWL recognizes and honors the many California law firms who have led by example in actively encouraging and promoting their women lawyers to partnership and management positions. CWL continues to advocate the expansion of No Glass Ceiling Initiatives throughout California by working with local affiliates to tailor programs suitable for the specific region. CWL members frequently speak on the No Glass Ceiling subject at seminars throughout the United States.

To learn more about extending the No Glass Ceiling Initiative to your community, contact Karen Goodman at kgoodman@goodman-law.com.

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