With the death of former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the nation lost its first female U.S. Supreme Court justice—one whose appointment in 1981 opened the doors for women both in the legal profession and on courts across the nation. Indeed, many of the accomplished judicial guests on The Portia Project podcast, which chronicles the careers of women in the law, cite Justice O’Connor’s appointment as a turning point for them personally and for women in the law: women were appointed to state supreme courts, and more women were in law school classes, in the wake of her appointment. 

Now women outnumber men in law schools and this is the first year that reports indicate women make up more than 50% of entering law firm associates. Studies like one in California show that women are gaining ground in reaching equal footing with men in law practice, although men remain disproportionately in elite positions within large law firms, particularly in the equity partner role. Women are also making inroads on the bench.