Women in Law Literature Review

Duff, L., Mason, M. and Webley, L. 2019. Women in Law Literature Review. London Law Society.

TitleWomen in Law Literature Review
AuthorsDuff, L., Mason, M. and Webley, L.
TypeProject report
Abstract


The women in law literature review is part of our Women in Leadership in the Law project.

The review focuses on studies about women lawyers to answer the questions:

to what extent have women solicitors reached a position of equality within the profession?
to the extent that they have not, why not and what can be done to remedy the inequality?

The first section summarises 20 key studies with information about who conducted the study, how and why, and key findings.

The second section examines themes emerging from the studies with analysis on:

the representation of women in law and barriers to equal representation
parenthood and its impact on careers
work/life balance and its implications for women in law
unconscious bias
equal pay
workplace culture
the impact of change in the profession
best diversity practice to improve female representation

We conclude with a consideration of the work still to be done to reach gender equality in the profession, for example tackling:

subtle forms of discrimination
long-hours culture
presenteeism

Year2019
PublisherLaw Society
Place of publicationLondon
Publication dates
Published14 Mar 2019
File
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Web address (URL)https://prdsitecore93.azureedge.net/-/media/files/topics/research/women-in-the-law-literature-review-march-2019.pdf?rev=c0f6012b16ef44af8f99701b51aa42d4&hash=1ED82A31AC49C12508CA12A73E815AD2

Related outputs

From psychotherapy to legal practice. The use of clinical supervision by lawyers in England and Wales
Mason, M. 2024. From psychotherapy to legal practice. The use of clinical supervision by lawyers in England and Wales. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2024.2362138

The Possible Forms of Professionalism: Credibility and the Performance of Queer Sexualities Among Barristers in England & Wales
Mason, M., Vaughan, S. and Weil, B. 2023. The Possible Forms of Professionalism: Credibility and the Performance of Queer Sexualities Among Barristers in England & Wales. Journal of Law and Society. 50 (1), pp. 77-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/jols.12408

Complete Public Law: Text, Cases, and Materials, 5th edition
Webley, L. and Samuels, H. 2021. Complete Public Law: Text, Cases, and Materials, 5th edition. Oxford University Press (OUP).

A Safe Space / Supervising Solicitors: an approach from psychotherapy
Mason, M. 2021. A Safe Space / Supervising Solicitors: an approach from psychotherapy. Law Society of Ireland.

Gender and the legal academy in the UK: a product of proxies and hiring and promotion practices
Duff, L. and Webley, L. 2021. Gender and the legal academy in the UK: a product of proxies and hiring and promotion practices. in: Auchmuty, R.S., Ulrike Schultz, U., Shaw, G. and Thornton, M. (ed.) Gender and Careers in the Legal Academy UK Hart Publishing.

Entity regulation, litigation rights and the changing meaning of professionalism at the Bar of England and Wales
Mason, M. 2020. Entity regulation, litigation rights and the changing meaning of professionalism at the Bar of England and Wales. Legal Ethics. 23 (1-2), pp. 48-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/1460728x.2020.1833130

On objectivity and staying ‘native’: Researching LGBTQI+ lawyers as a queer lawyer
Mason, M. 2019. On objectivity and staying ‘native’: Researching LGBTQI+ lawyers as a queer lawyer. in: Routledge Handbook of Socio-Legal Theory and Methods Routledge. pp. 123-135

Socio-legal theory and methods: Introduction
Creutzfeldt, N., Mason, M. and McConnachie, K. 2019. Socio-legal theory and methods: Introduction. in: Creutzfeldt, N., Mason, M. and McConnachie, K. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Socio-Legal Theory and Methods Routledge.

Complete Public Law: Text, Cases, and Materials, 4th edition
Webley, L. and Samuels, H. 2018. Complete Public Law: Text, Cases, and Materials, 4th edition. Oxford University Press (OUP).

Sexuality at the Bar: An Empirical Exploration into the Experiences of LGBT+ Barristers in England & Wales
Mason, M. and Vaughan, S. 2017. Sexuality at the Bar: An Empirical Exploration into the Experiences of LGBT+ Barristers in England & Wales. London University College London.

When is mediation mediatory and when is it really adjudicatory? Religion, Norms and decision-making
Webley, L. 2017. When is mediation mediatory and when is it really adjudicatory? Religion, Norms and decision-making. in: Bano, S. (ed.) Gender and Justice in Family Law Disputes: Women, Mediation, and Religious Arbitration University Press of New England.

Splitting the Assets
Mason, M., Coleridge, P., Matheson-Durant, N., Reed, L., LeGrice, J. and Willis, M. 2016. Splitting the Assets. London

Stumbling Blocks in Empirical Legal Research: Case Study Research
Webley, L. 2016. Stumbling Blocks in Empirical Legal Research: Case Study Research. Law and Method. https://doi.org/10.5553/REM/.000020

Interception of communications and legal professional privilege and the rule of law
Webley, L. 2016. Interception of communications and legal professional privilege and the rule of law. Legal Ethics. 19 (1), pp. 173-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/1460728x.2016.1193954

Diversity and Inclusion As the Key to Innovating Talent Management in Law Firms?
Webley, L. and Duff, L. 2016. Diversity and Inclusion As the Key to Innovating Talent Management in Law Firms? in: Mottershead, T. (ed.) Innovating Talent Management in Law Firms National Association for Law Placement. pp. 235-254

Legal Writing (4th edition)
Webley, L. 2016. Legal Writing (4th edition). Abingdon Routledge.

Access to a Career in the Legal Profession in England and Wales: Race, Class, and the Role of Educational Background
Webley, L., Tomlinson, J., Muzio, D., Sommerlad, H. and Duff, L. 2016. Access to a Career in the Legal Profession in England and Wales: Race, Class, and the Role of Educational Background. in: Headworth, S., Nelson, R.L., Dinovitzer, R. and Wilkins, D.B. (ed.) Diversity In Practice: Race, Gender, and Class in Legal and Professional Careers Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 198-225

European Citizenship, Freedom, Security, Justice and Equality
Webley, L. 2015. European Citizenship, Freedom, Security, Justice and Equality. in: European Citizenship Challenges and Opportunities Porto Portugal Universidade Catolica Editora Porto. pp. 143-162

Complete Public Law: Text, Cases and Materials, 3rd edition
Webley, L. and Samuels, H. 2015. Complete Public Law: Text, Cases and Materials, 3rd edition. Oxford Oxford University Press.

Making way for change at the Bar: The practical implications of the new Bar Standards Board Handbook
Mason, M. 2015. Making way for change at the Bar: The practical implications of the new Bar Standards Board Handbook. Journal of Professional Negligence. 31 (3), pp. 139-155.

When is a Family Lawyer, a Lawyer?
Webley, L. 2015. When is a Family Lawyer, a Lawyer? in: Mavis Maclean, John Eekalaar and Bastard Benoit (ed.) Delivering Family Justice in the 21st Century Oxford, UK Hart. pp. 305-321

Legal Professional De(Re)Regulation, Equality, and Inclusion, and the Contested Space of Professionalism Within the Legal Market in England and Wales
Webley, L. 2015. Legal Professional De(Re)Regulation, Equality, and Inclusion, and the Contested Space of Professionalism Within the Legal Market in England and Wales. Fordham Law Review. 83 (5), pp. 2349-2367.

The Former Legal Director of the London Times, Legal Professional Privilege and the Duty Not to Mislead the Court in England and Wales
Webley, L. 2014. The Former Legal Director of the London Times, Legal Professional Privilege and the Duty Not to Mislead the Court in England and Wales. Legal Ethics. 17 (2), pp. 310-312.

UK: Room at the Inns—The Increased Scope of Regulation under the New Bar Standards Board Handbook for England and Wales
Mason, M. 2014. UK: Room at the Inns—The Increased Scope of Regulation under the New Bar Standards Board Handbook for England and Wales. Legal Ethics. 17 (1), pp. 143-147. https://doi.org/10.5235/1460728x.17.1.143

Legal Writing (3rd Edition)
Webley, L. 2013. Legal Writing (3rd Edition). London, UK Routledge.

United Kingdom: What Robinson v Solicitors Regulation Authority Tells Us about the Contested Terrain of Race and Disciplinary Processes
Webley, L. 2013. United Kingdom: What Robinson v Solicitors Regulation Authority Tells Us about the Contested Terrain of Race and Disciplinary Processes. Legal Ethics. 16 (1), pp. 236-241. https://doi.org/10.5235/1460728X.1.1.236

Structure, agency and the career strategies of women and BME individuals in the legal profession
Tomlinson, J., Muzio, D., Sommerlad, H., Webley, L. and Duff, L. 2013. Structure, agency and the career strategies of women and BME individuals in the legal profession. Human Relations. 66 (2), pp. 245-269. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726712460556

Complete Public Law: Text, Cases and Materials (2nd Edition)
Webley, L. and Samuels, H. 2012. Complete Public Law: Text, Cases and Materials (2nd Edition). Oxford, UK Oxford University Press.

The Legal Education Training Review: Correspondent’s Report from the United Kingdom
Webley, L. 2012. The Legal Education Training Review: Correspondent’s Report from the United Kingdom. Legal Ethics. 15 (1), pp. 140-141. https://doi.org/10.5235/146072812801292773

Legal Ethics and the Legal Education Training Review: Correspondent’s Report from the United Kingdom
Webley, L. 2012. Legal Ethics and the Legal Education Training Review: Correspondent’s Report from the United Kingdom. Legal Ethics. 15 (2), pp. 402-404.

Gender, Hierarchy, Power and Inequality: What Sociological Theory Adds to our Understanding of Sex-Discrimination
Webley, L. 2012. Gender, Hierarchy, Power and Inequality: What Sociological Theory Adds to our Understanding of Sex-Discrimination. Westminster Law Review . 1 (1), pp. 37-42.

Children in military custody
Sedley, S., Scotland, P., Oldham, F., Hildyard, M., Khan, J., Harrill, J., Lanchin, J., Davies, G. and Mason, M. 2012. Children in military custody. London United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Legal ethics in the academic curriculum: correspondent’s report from the United Kingdom
Webley, L. 2011. Legal ethics in the academic curriculum: correspondent’s report from the United Kingdom. Legal Ethics. 14 (1), pp. 132-134.

Law Students as Peer Mentors: Developing the Reflective Practitioner and/or Embedding Legal Learning: Correspondent’s Report from the United Kingdom
Webley, L. 2011. Law Students as Peer Mentors: Developing the Reflective Practitioner and/or Embedding Legal Learning: Correspondent’s Report from the United Kingdom. Legal Ethics. 14 (2), pp. 250-251.

Solicitors as imagined masculine, family mediators as fictive feminine and the hybridization of divorce solicitors
Webley, L. 2011. Solicitors as imagined masculine, family mediators as fictive feminine and the hybridization of divorce solicitors. in: Bartlett, F., Mortenson, R. and Tranter, K. (ed.) Alternative perspectives on lawyers and legal ethics Abingdon Routledge. pp. 132-150

Qualitative approaches to empirical legal research
Webley, L. 2010. Qualitative approaches to empirical legal research. in: Cane, P. and Kritzer, H. (ed.) Oxford handbook of empirical legal research Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 926-950

Gate-keeper, supervisor or mentor? The role of professional bodies in the regulation and professional development of solicitors and family mediators undertaking divorce matters in England and Wales
Webley, L. 2010. Gate-keeper, supervisor or mentor? The role of professional bodies in the regulation and professional development of solicitors and family mediators undertaking divorce matters in England and Wales. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. 32 (2), pp. 119-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/09649069.2010.506308

Diversity in the legal profession: a business or an ethical rationale?: correspondent's report from the United Kingdom
Webley, L. 2010. Diversity in the legal profession: a business or an ethical rationale?: correspondent's report from the United Kingdom. Legal Ethics. 13 (2), pp. 223-224.

Adversarialism and consensus? The professions’ construction of solicitor and family mediator identity and role
Webley, L. 2010. Adversarialism and consensus? The professions’ construction of solicitor and family mediator identity and role. New Orleans Quid Pro.

Diversity in the legal profession in England and Wales: A qualitative study of barriers and individual choices
Sommerlad, H., Webley, L., Duff, L., Muzio, D., Tomlinson, J. and Parnham, R. 2010. Diversity in the legal profession in England and Wales: A qualitative study of barriers and individual choices. London Legal Services Board.

Complete Public Law: Test Cases and Materials
Webley, L. and Samuels, H. 2009. Complete Public Law: Test Cases and Materials. Oxford, UK Oxford University Press.

Legal writing. 2nd edition
Webley, L. 2009. Legal writing. 2nd edition. London, UK Cavendish Publishing.

Book review: A great and noble occupation!: the history of the Society of Legal Scholars. By F. Cownie and R. Cocks
Mason, M. 2009. Book review: A great and noble occupation!: the history of the Society of Legal Scholars. By F. Cownie and R. Cocks. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 16 (2-3), pp. 263-268. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695958.2009.486916

The next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme
Bacquet, S., Boon, A., Webley, L. and Whyte, A. 2009. The next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme. in: Buck, A. (ed.) Reaching further: innovation, access and quality in legal services : papers from the Legal Services Research Centre's seventh international research conference, Reaching further, Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich, London, 18th to 20th June 2008 London Stationary Office. pp. 143-165

Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme
Bacquet, S., Boon, A., Webley, L. and Whyte, A. 2008. Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme. Legal Services Commission.

The European criminal record in England and Wales
Webley, L. 2008. The European criminal record in England and Wales. in: Stefanou, C. and Xanthaki, H. (ed.) Towards a European criminal record Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 281-307

Paralegals
Webley, L. 2008. Paralegals. in: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J. (ed.) The new Oxford companion to law Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 862-863

Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme
Webley, L. 2008. Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme. Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference 2008: The Impact of Legal Scholarship. London School of Economics 15 - 18 Sep 2008

Encouraging the next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme
Webley, L. 2008. Encouraging the next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme. Seventh Legal Services Research Centre (LSRC) International Research Conference, "Reaching Further: New Approaches to the Delivery of Legal Services". Naval College, Greenwich, London 18 - 20 Jun 2008

Costs of complaining and claiming
Webley, L. 2008. Costs of complaining and claiming. in: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J. (ed.) The new Oxford companion to law Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 243-245

Vexatious litigants
Mason, M. and Sherr, A. 2008. Vexatious litigants. in: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J. (ed.) The new Oxford companion to law Oxford Oxford University Press.

Legal profession, social background, entry and training
Mason, M. and Sherr, A. 2008. Legal profession, social background, entry and training. in: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J. (ed.) The new Oxford companion to law Oxford Oxford University Press.

Lawyer-client relations
Mason, M. and Sherr, A. 2008. Lawyer-client relations. in: Cane, P. and Conaghan, J. (ed.) The new Oxford companion to law Oxford Oxford University Press.

Court-based mediation in England and Wales: are judges evading their responsibilities?
Webley, L. 2007. Court-based mediation in England and Wales: are judges evading their responsibilities? Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University Ohio, Seminar Series. Cleveland State University, Ohio 2007

Twisting arms: court referred and court linked mediation under judicial pressure
Genn, H., Fenn, P., Mason, M., Lane, A., Bechai, N., Gray, L. and Vencappa, D. 2007. Twisting arms: court referred and court linked mediation under judicial pressure. Ministry of Justice.

Women solicitors as a barometer for problems within the legal profession: time to put values before profits?
Webley, L. and Duff, L. 2007. Women solicitors as a barometer for problems within the legal profession: time to put values before profits? Journal of Law and Society. 34 (3), pp. 374-402. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6478.2007.00397.x

A review of how other countries provide information and advice to the vulnerable on consumer and social issues
Webley, L. and Bacquet, S. 2006. A review of how other countries provide information and advice to the vulnerable on consumer and social issues. London, UK DTI. https://doi.org/URN06/1871

Mediation through the Birmingham court-based scheme
Webley, L., Abrams, P. and Bacquet, S. 2006. Mediation through the Birmingham court-based scheme. Journal of Housing Law. 9 (1), pp. 9-12.

Evaluation of the Birmingham court-based Civil (non-family) mediation scheme
Webley, L., Abrams, P. and Bacquet, S. 2006. Evaluation of the Birmingham court-based Civil (non-family) mediation scheme. London, UK Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Divorce solicitors and ethical approaches: the best interests of the client and/or the best interests of the family?
Webley, L. 2005. Divorce solicitors and ethical approaches: the best interests of the client and/or the best interests of the family? Legal Ethics. 7 (2), pp. 231-250.

Criminal records and organised crime in England and Wales
Webley, L. 2005. Criminal records and organised crime in England and Wales. in: Stefanou, C. and Xanthaki, H. (ed.) Financial crime in the EU: criminal records as effective tools or missed opportunities? The Hague, Netherlands Kluwer Law International. pp. 133-148

The loneliness of the pro bono coordinator
Webley, L. 2004. The loneliness of the pro bono coordinator. Law Institute Journal. 78 (12), p. 92.

Legal aid and legal need
Webley, L. 2004. Legal aid and legal need. Law Institute Journal. 78 (11), p. 91.

Access key in the UK
Webley, L. 2004. Access key in the UK. Law Institute Journal. 78 (9), p. 83.

Equality and diversity: women solicitors research study 48
Duff, L. and Webley, L. 2004. Equality and diversity: women solicitors research study 48. London, UK Law Society.

Pro bono and young solicitors: views from the front line
Webley, L. 2001. Pro bono and young solicitors: views from the front line. Legal Ethics. 3 (2), pp. 152-168.

Quality and cost: final report on the contracting of Civil, Non-Family Advice and Assistance Pilot
Moorhead, R., Sherr, A., Webley, L., Rogers, S., Sherr, L., Patterson, A. and Domberger, S. 2001. Quality and cost: final report on the contracting of Civil, Non-Family Advice and Assistance Pilot. London, UK The Stationary Office.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/vxwq7/women-in-law-literature-review


Share this

Usage statistics

132 total views
67 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.