Why women leave the law

The International Bar Association (IBA) has launched a global investigation into the reasons why so many women lawyers leave law firms or, sometimes, the legal profession entirely. It will look at the professional barriers that women experience, and will collect information on an anonymous basis. The final report will include practical measures for stemming the attrition, as well as strategies for retention and re-engagement. Isabel Bueno, chair of the IBA women lawyers’ interest group, said: “This specific issue lies within the broader serious problem of a major lack of diversity in the legal profession, particularly within senior roles.”