The dearth of women arguing before the Supreme Court is still a reality, but the numbers are improving, Supreme Court and appellate practitioners said Tuesday night.

"The pipeline is filling up with women," said U.S. Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Virginia Seitz—even as the court's docket of argued cases remains small and competition among attorneys to appear before the justices grows more intense. "It's a very small plate of meat with a lot of large dogs," Seitz said.