Pathways to the Podium

Abstract

Women who have argued before the Supreme Court are much more likely to work for the government or a public interest organization, while male advocates are much more likely to work for private firms. In fact, male Supreme Court advocates working at private firms make up over half of Supreme Court advocates overall, outnumbering both female advocates across all sectors and male advocates in government combined. This study explores why female Supreme Court advocates are less likely to argue from private firms than men. Interviews with twenty-three Supreme Court advocates reveal systemic barriers that perpetuate the gender gap within the Supreme Court Bar.

Keywords: Supreme Court, Supreme Court Bar, Attorney Gender Gap