Women attorneys gain ground in higher ed leadership but still face bias, new study finds
While more attorneys are being appointed to top leadership positions at universities and colleges, those roles are overwhelmingly held by men, according to a report released Tuesday by the Association of American Law Schools.
“This study brings to light the varied experiences of women attorneys who lead our higher education institutions,” said Katie Kempner, co-author and AALS associate director of research and data analytics, in a press release. “By identifying both the strengths these leaders bring and the obstacles they face, our findings will further enable institutions to adopt concrete policies that help remove barriers and strengthen leadership pathways.”
According to the study, of the 158 attorneys who have served as president of a college or university from 1970 to 2019, only 16, or 10.1% have been women. In 2017, 30% of college presidents were women, but 20% of college presidents with a JD were women.
Law schools tell a slightly different story. In 2020, 41% of law school deans were women, up from 18% 10 years earlier, according to the study.
Women Attorneys in Higher Education Leadership is based on a summer 2025 survey of 274 women attorneys who are current or former leaders who served as president, provost or dean at a college or university, along with focus group of seven current women law school deans. Of the 121 survey respondents, 33.1% were current law school deans, while 35.5% were former deans. Current presidents accounted for 11.6%.
To succeed as a leader, a majority of the respondents selected good judgment, 69.8%, integrity, 61.2%, and hard work, 56.9% as the most helpful attributes. Support networks are key, with 76.7% reporting having a mentor or champion and 77.4% saying at least one colleague or supervisor helped advance their careers, according to the report.
About one-half, 52.6%, cited serving as an associate dean prepared them for their leadership role, and 49.1% said leading a law school committee helped.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents, report that they experienced gender bias in their current or more recent role and 71.9% stated they had overcome structural and cultural obstacles to success because of their gender identity. Meanwhile, 61.1% percent of current leaders reported earning more than their male predecessors, the study shows.
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