South Africa’s female lawyers call for equality action (African Law and Business)

African Law and Business, March 8, 2024 

South Africa’s female lawyers call for equality action 

A new report has shed some light on this underrepresentation. Market research company Plus 94 Research surveyed 100 senior female legal practitioners across the legal professional spectrum for Advancing Women in the Workplace, a report published by the Cyrus R Vance Center for International Justice.  

The findings were presented at an event hosted by the Vance Center and its South Africa Legal Fellows Network via its Advancing Women in the Workplace (AWW) program on 1 March, in a joint effort between South Africa and the US. 

Vance Center Africa Programme Director Adaobi Egboka said at the conference: ‘These results remind us that South Africa’s legal profession is filled with talented, ambitious, and accomplished women, but that there are still significant barriers preventing these women, especially black women, from advancing to leadership and reaching the full scope of their talent and potential.’ 

She added: ‘Still, we see that women lawyers are building their own pathways to a brighter, more inclusive future, establishing their own firms and mentoring younger professionals through programs like Advancing Women in the Workplace.’