Representation of Women in law & legal profession

 Devanshi Verma

The question of representation and participation of women in legal profession in India is a matter
of concern. There are only  12%  women judges in 25 high courts of the country and 6 high courts
having not even a single woman judge. 
Even in recent times India’s top law firms are said to have only 30% women partners. Although at the
entry level in law schools and profession the ratio of men and women is almost equal but with each step
upward in their career the ratio of women drops. Additionally, availing maternity leaves has had a
negative impact on their careers. Most corporate law firms are unwilling to invest in women and view
maternity benefits as a drain on their resources. Women are also kept out of entire fields of law such as
criminal law because of the prevalent stereotypes types that women shouldn’t practices the field because it is dangerous or dirty. Workplace harassment isn’t uncommon for women in the legal profession. Not only this but clients also tend to question their competency assuming that women are too soft to handle aggressive negotiations. So, what can be done to improve this disparity? Providing women with infrastructural support including child care spaces, enabling environment and flexible work hours is a way to ensure that women are equally represented in the legal field and can achieve their true worth and potential.