A nationwide survey conducted by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has revealed deep-rooted gender disparities in India’s legal profession, with more than 80 per cent of women lawyers saying their professional journey is harder than that of their male counterparts. The report, titled Documenting Voices of Women Legal Professionals in India, is based on responses from 2,604 women legal professionals across 23 State Bar Councils and presents a data-driven picture of systemic bias, workplace challenges, and structural inequality within the profession.
The findings suggest that gender bias is not limited to isolated incidents but is embedded in everyday professional interactions, institutional processes, and informal networks that influence career growth at the Bar.
Gender bias widespread across legal workspaces
The survey found that gender bias is prevalent across multiple professional settings, including courtrooms, chambers, registries, police stations, and law offices. Around 34 per cent of respondents said they had personally experienced gender bias, while 23.5 per cent said they had witnessed bias affecting colleagues. Only about 29 per cent reported no experience of such bias, indicating that the majority of women lawyers encounter gender-based challenges in their careers.
Bias was reported in several key areas of professional life, including fee negotiations, work allocation, access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and panel appointments. Nearly six in ten respondents acknowledged the presence of institutional gender bias in their professional environment.
Fees, work allocation, client trust among key areas of bias
Among the areas where women lawyers reported the most discrimination, fee negotiations emerged as the top concern, with 42.7 per cent identifying it as a major area of bias. This was followed by work-life balance expectations at 39.5 per cent and client trust and briefing opportunities at 32.8 per cent.
The survey also found that women lawyers faced disadvantages in panel appointments, designation processes, and allocation of high-profile or sensitive matters, all of which are crucial for career advancement and professional visibility. Informal networks and referrals often critical for building a practice were also identified as areas where women were at a disadvantage.
Majority say career progression more difficult
One of the most striking findings of the survey was the consistency across experience levels in the perception that women face greater professional challenges. Overall, 81.3 per cent of respondents said their professional journey was harder than that of men, with 41.1 per cent saying it was much more difficult and 40.2 per cent describing it as slightly more difficult.
Importantly, this perception remained consistent across seniority levels, including among lawyers with more than 15 years of experience, suggesting that gender-based challenges do not diminish significantly with time in the profession.
Harassment, burnout and lack of support systems
The survey also highlighted serious concerns about workplace safety and mental well-being. Around 16.1 per cent of respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment in professional settings, while 12.7 per cent chose not to disclose their experiences. Among those who reported harassment, 57 per cent said they faced backlash, including loss of work opportunities or hostile work environments.
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Burnout emerged as another major issue, with 84 per cent of respondents reporting work-related stress, particularly among early-career lawyers, where the figure rose to over 94 per cent. The report warns that such stress levels could contribute to early attrition among women litigators.
First-Generation lawyers and leadership aspirations
A significant structural challenge identified by the survey is that 83.1 per cent of women lawyers are first-generation practitioners, meaning they lack inherited professional networks, mentorship, and early career support systems that often help build legal careers.
Despite these barriers, the survey found strong leadership ambition among women lawyers. Over three-fourths of respondents said they planned to contest or were considering contesting leadership positions in bar associations and councils, indicating a desire to influence institutional decision-making and improve professional conditions for women.
Structural inequality remains a work in progress
The SCBA report presents one of the most comprehensive assessments of gender inequality in India’s legal profession. While the number of women entering the profession has increased significantly over the years, the survey makes it clear that structural and cultural barriers continue to shape professional opportunities, recognition, and career progression.
The findings underline that while women are increasingly visible in courtrooms and legal institutions, true equality in terms of opportunity, professional support, and institutional representation remains a work in progress.