A new study finds women are making strides in the legal profession despite conflict
A report by the International Bar Association (IBA) revealed that Ukraine leads in gender equality within the legal profession, with women holding a substantial number of senior roles across all sectors. This report, conducted by the IBA’s Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) in collaboration with the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA), is part of the “50:50 by 2030” initiative, a nine-year project aimed at addressing gender disparity in the legal field, according to a news release.
According to the findings, women represent 56 percent of all lawyers in Ukraine, with 53 percent occupying senior positions, marking the highest level among the 10 countries studied so far. The public sector shows the most significant representation, with 76 percent of senior roles held by women, followed by the corporate sector at 59 percent and the judiciary at 40 percent. Law firms have the lowest rate of female representation in senior roles, with only 38 percent.
The report underscored Ukraine’s progress amid challenges posed by the ongoing conflict with Russia, which began in February 2022. Ukrainian lawyers and judges have remained committed to maintaining the profession’s values while prioritizing gender equality, a point emphasized in the report’s foreword by UBA president Mykola Stetsenko.
“This document not only encapsulates our accomplishments and the challenges we face but also carves a path toward achieving equality and fairness,” Stetsenko wrote. “In these challenging times, as our nation grapples with the repercussions of the invasion, women in the legal arena have shown remarkable resilience and commitment.”
In addition to tracking gender representation, the report highlighted initiatives aiding women’s advancement in law. Coaching and mentoring programs are seen as particularly effective for promoting gender diversity, alongside flexible working arrangements and leadership training designed to support women in senior roles. Part-time work is found to be more common in law firms but remains less frequent in the judiciary, public sector, and corporate sectors.
Monitoring gender balance within legal organizations has also gained traction. According to the survey, 64 percent of respondents track gender balance overall, and 58 percent specifically monitor the distribution within senior roles. In a comparative analysis of female representation, Ukraine’s legal sector ranks slightly below Chile (60 percent) and the Netherlands (57 percent) but remains ahead of Spain (54 percent), England and Wales (51 percent), and several other countries studied, including Brazil and Nigeria.
The Ukraine-focused study is the 10th installment in the IBA’s reporting series. The “50:50 by 2030” project will next release its findings on Turkey.
