Contrary to expectations, women lawyers have not suffered more in the current recession than their male counterparts. At least not when it comes to headcount at NLJ 250 firms.
According to The National Law Journal‘s 2009 survey of the nation’s 250 largest law firms, the number of women lawyers at those firms decreased overall by 2% this past year, compared to an overall headcount loss of 4%. While the average number of female associates fell to 112, compared with 124.7 in 2008, the average number of women partners went up slightly, to 41 from 39.4.
