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.
