NAWL speaks out on issues that affect women and women lawyers.
NAWL participates in individual court cases by writing or joining amicus curiae briefs addressing issues of interest to women and their families.
NAWL focuses on issues relevant to women lawyers, such as the glass ceiling, pay equity, and balancing work and family.
The National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) is a national voluntary legal professional organization devoted to promoting the interests and progress of women lawyers and women's legal rights.
Founded in 1899, long before most local and national bar associations admitted women, NAWL serves as an educational forum and an active voice for the concerns of women in the legal profession. NAWL is about solutions, both for workplace issues facing women lawyers and for societal problems confronting women in our nation and worldwide. NAWL, through its members and committees, functions as the voice of women in the law™, providing a collective voice in the bar, courts, Congress, and workplaces to make women’s concerns heard.
NAWL continues to support and advance the interests of women in and under the law, and in so doing, supports and advances the social, political, and professional empowerment of women. Through its programs and networks, NAWL provides the tools for women in the profession to advance, prosper and enrich the profession.
Programs for Every Stage of a Woman Lawyer’s Career
- The program “From Backpack to Briefcase,” aimed at helping law students successfully move from law school to the workplace;
- The continuing series, “Taking Charge of Your Career,” designed to provide the skills and information that women lawyers need to reach leadership levels in their practice settings;
- The annual General Counsel Institute, dedicated to helping senior in-house counsel excel at the highest level;
- The “Ready to On Ramp” program, which helps women who have taken time off from the profession to resume their careers;
- Programs focusing on negotiating and networking skills.
Publications for Women Lawyers
- The Women Lawyers Journal (WLJ), NAWL's quarterly publication of leading articles relating to women in the law;
- The National Directory of Women-Owned Law Firms and Women Lawyers® (Directory), an annual publication designed to assist in-house counsel with locating women lawyers and referring legal work.
Opportunities to Network
- Networking and leadership opportunities for women lawyers at all levels;
- Liaison to other professional organizations.
Advocating for Women’s Legal Rights
- Amicus support in the United States Supreme Court and other courts on issues of particular interest to women;
- International updates through our position as an official United Nations Observer;
- Commitment to supporting diversity in the legal profession.