2020 brought its share of darkness—the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, deep political division, loss of jobs, and tragic loss of countless lives. But there is light on the horizon: 2021 promises to be a year where women will lead our government in greater numbers than ever before. Kamala Harris has broken one of the country’s highest glass and concrete ceilings as the first woman, and first Black and South Asian person, to be elected vice president. Her election is a pivotal moment and will inspire women and girls to aspire to leadership positions. President-elect Biden has assembled a diverse cabinet and an all women communications team. We will have the most women, and women of color, in Congress ever: at least 141 women. A Black woman scientist is co-leader of the team that developed a COVID-19 vaccine.

We need to seize upon this momentum to achieve gender equity in the legal profession, to ensure that women lawyers have more leadership roles and opportunities. While women have made great strides—approximately 50% of graduating law school classes and 47% of incoming law firm associates are women, law firms are still losing significant numbers of women by the time partnership promotion decisions are made. Women remain starkly underrepresented in leadership roles such as equity and managing partners, general counsels, U.S Attorneys, and other government leadership positions.