Australia: IBA study finds that women form the majority of lawyers but remain under-represented in senior roles
Thursday 29 January 2026
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A new report published by the International Bar Association (IBA) reveals that while women in Australia make up the majority of lawyers (58 per cent), their representation drops to 45 per cent in senior positions. Specifically, in law firms that responded to the survey, women comprised 59 per cent of lawyers, but only 42 per cent at senior levels. It is the 14th report released by the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) in its global Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project examining women’s representation in the legal profession.
The Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project – Australia results report was produced in collaboration with the Law Council of Australia and supported by the IBA ~Diversity and Inclusion Council.
Global context and continuing focus
IBA President Claudio Visco emphasised the importance of the findings on Australia within the broader international project: ‘I am delighted the IBA has added another jurisdiction to its already extensive list of countries covered by the Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project. The issue of gender parity in the law remains a priority for my presidential term and beyond. Today in Australia most law students are women, and although the proportion of women at senior levels has increased over time, it does still not reflect the overall proportion of women lawyers in the profession. By exploring best practice initiatives from across the globe, we hope this project will provide other countries with the mechanisms to create lasting change.’
Juliana Warner, immediate past President of the Law Council of Australia said the findings reflect persistent structural challenges faced by women in the profession: ‘I have enjoyed a challenging and rewarding career as a commercial litigator in Australia. However, I have encountered the same obstacles facing many women lawyers as they endeavour to balance a demanding career with family and carer responsibilities. The insights and learnings from this cross-jurisdictional study will be of enormous benefit to efforts around the world to achieve equality in the law. I commend the IBA for this innovative project.’
Main findings include:
- according to national data, women comprise only 30 per cent of barristers in Australia, and 16 per cent of Senior/King’s Counsel; and
- women account for 47 per cent of judicial officers overall, with representation declining in Australia’s highest courts.
Respondent organisations were also asked to provide details of initiatives implemented within their workplace to address gender disparity. Flexible working arrangements were cited as the most offered and most effective measure. Coaching and mentoring closely followed in terms of popularity, while target setting and leadership training for women were assessed as slightly more effective in driving progress.
Next phases of the project
Further country studies are underway, with the IBA’s report on Canada to be released later this year. In addition, findings from ‘Phase 2’ of the project – a global survey of 5,000 women lawyers conducted in mid-2025 – will be launched at an in-person event in London on 12 March 2026 to mark International Women’s Day.
Phase 2 seeks to highlight experiences of women in law worldwide, including obstacles to practice, reasons for leaving or considering leaving the profession, opinions on workplace initiatives and their effectiveness and the impact of professional demands on life outside of work.
About the Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project
The Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project examines women’s representation across the legal profession, with a focus on those in senior roles – covering private practice, in-house legal teams, public sector institutions and the judiciary. Previous reports covered England and Wales, Uganda and Spain (2022); Nigeria, the Netherlands and Chile (2023); and the Republic of Korea, Brzail, Mexico, Ukraine and Türkiye (2024), alongside the Project’s Progress Report released in December 2024. A complementary case study on Nepal was also published in 2024 in collaboration with DLA Piper’s nonprofit affiliate New Perimeter. A report on Taiwan was released in 2025.
ENDS
Notes
- Click here to download a PDF of the Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project – Australia results report.
- Click here for information on the IBA Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project and to download all published reports.
- The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
- Find the IBA on social media here:
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IBA website page link for this news release:
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Full link: https://www.ibanet.org/Australia-IBA-study-finds-that-women-form-the-majority-of-lawyers-but-remain-under-represented-in-senior-roles