The UK and the US both experience a decline in women’s representation as lawyers advance in seniority, with rates falling from 62% of solicitors to 32% of full equity partners in the UK. However, at every level, the UK has a higher share of women lawyers than the US. Women make up more than half –53%–of all lawyers in the UK, compared to 41% in the US.
Across all lawyers, underrepresented racial/ethnic (URE) representation is nearly identical in the UK and the US (20% and 21%, respectively). In the US, higher representation among associates (31%) drives this figure, but representation drops sharply at the partner level: only 10% of US equity partners identify as URE. In contrast, the UK shows a more gradual decline; 21% of solicitors are URE, compared to 17% of partners.
In both regions, these patterns reinforce the importance of transparent, consistent systems that support advancement throughout the talent pipeline.
Sources:
UK data: Solicitors Regulation Authority (2023).
US data: NALP Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms (2024–25).
