Gender Discrimination: Evidence from Young Lawyers

Abstract

This study explores gender discrimination among attorneys using Young Lawyers survey data from 2007. The survey included five questions about discrimination which are used as outcome measures. The survey asks respondents about receiving demeaning comments, missing out on desirable assignments, client requests for someone else to do work, colleague requests for someone else to work with, and the partner discounted hours. Results show gender gaps in two of the discrimination measures: experience in receiving demeaning comments and missed out desirable comments. Gaps persist even after controlling for performance, educational attainment and ability, individual characteristics, firm characteristics and areas of law. Data do not indicate gender gaps for the other measures. This suggests that gender discrimination persists in specific situations among young lawyers.