Sex Discrimination in the Legal Profession

The results of this extremely data-rich study reveal that women attorneys are victimized by less obvious forms of discrimination. Based on results of surveys conducted by the ABA in 1984 and 1990, this work challenges the notion that legislation outlawing discrimination actually works. Setting controls for a whole host of individual, firm, and locational characteristics, the study determined that although hourly earnings of female lawyers do not differ appreciably from those of male lawyers, the incidence of promotion from associate to partner is greater for men than for otherwise comparable women. Lentz and Laband also found evidence of sexual harassment and other less-tangible aspects of sex discrimination in the legal workplace. This book is essential reading for law firms, labor economists, feminist scholars, and human resource professionals.

BERNARD F. LENTZ is Director of Institutional Research and Analysis at the University of Pennsylvania. His work on labor economics has ranged from French trade unions to the economic impact of children following their parent's career footsteps. He is also a consultant for state and local governments, educational institutions, and private practice attorneys. Previous publications include The Roots of Success: Why Children Follow in Their Parents' Career Footsteps (Praeger, 1985) and State Government Productivity: The Environment for Improvement (Praeger, 1976).

DAVID N. LABAND is presently Professor of Economics and head of the Department of Economics at Auburn University in Alabama. His teaching and research interests span the spectrum of applied microeconomics, with an emphasis on public sector economics, government regulations of business, political economy and labor economics. He is the coauthor with Bernard Lentz of The Roots of Success: Why Children Follow in Their Parents' Career Footsteps (Praeger, 1985).