Women at the Bar: Breaking Barriers or Still Fighting Them?

On International Women’s Day, the legal profession offers a complex picture of progress and persistence.

Over the past century, women have entered the legal field in growing numbers, gradually carving space in courtrooms that were once almost exclusively male domains.

Yet even as representation has improved and more women join litigation practice, questions remain about whether the profession has truly dismantled structural barriers or merely softened them.

The journey of women in law has been marked by significant milestones. Indian women were formally allowed to practice law only after the passage of the Legal Practitioners (Women) Act, 1923, which removed the legal prohibition against their entry into the profession. Since then, the presence of women in courtrooms, law firms and the judiciary has steadily expanded.

However, representation alone does not necessarily translate into equality in influence, opportunity or leadership within the profession.

Advocate Abha Singh points out that despite the growing number of women entering the profession, representation in positions of visibility and influence remains limited. From her perspective, the presence of women appearing as lead counsel in High Courts continues to be disproportionately low.

“Very few women counsels I see in the High Courts; it is still largely a monopoly of men,” Adv. Singh remarks.

She observes that many women entering litigation today often begin in supporting roles rather than being given opportunities to independently argue matters.

“Whatever girls are coming now are often assisting, carrying books or making mentions, so the judiciary still has a long way to go if we talk about gender equality and equity,” she says.

Adv. Singh also points to disparities in professional recognition and remuneration, noting that male advocates often command significantly higher fees than their female counterparts. In her view, the gap is also reflected in the relatively smaller number of women judges in courts throughout.

“On International Women’s Day there are still too many barriers. Women have a long way to go and are yet to fully break the glass ceiling in the judiciary,” she adds.

Advocate Aruna Savla similarly notes that while more women are entering litigation, structural patterns within the profession continue to shape opportunities and influence at the Bar.

Savla explains that much of the legal profession operates through informal networks, conversations in court corridors, social gatherings, or late-night meetings, where mentorship, referrals and professional relationships are often formed.

These spaces, she observes, frequently function as what she describes as a “boys’ club”, where informal influence and what she calls “soft power” play an important role in determining access to opportunities.

“Despite progress, female lawyers still face challenges like gender bias and stereotypes, limited networking opportunities, and the constant struggle to balance work and family life,” she notes.

Savla adds that women are often excluded from these informal circles, which can limit their access to influential mentors and high-profile case referrals.

The demanding culture of long working hours in litigation further compounds these challenges. Combined with safety concerns and inadequate infrastructure in some court premises, these conditions often contribute to higher attrition rates among women in the early and mid stages of practice.

Advocate Megha Chandra notes that while the number of women appearing in court has increased, the distribution of responsibilities within litigation teams often reflects a subtle hierarchy.

According to Chandra, women lawyers are frequently valued as diligent researchers or assistants but are not always entrusted with the primary responsibility of leading arguments in court.

“Whilst the presence of women at the Bar has certainly increased, true equality will only come when women are given the same courtroom exposure and opportunities to take the primary role in matters,” she observes.

She adds that many women continue to encounter an invisible ceiling when it comes to arguing cases or handling matters independently.

“Too often women are seen as excellent assistants, but they are rarely entrusted with the central responsibility of leading arguments. Until that changes, in my opinion, the glass ceiling at the Bar remains firmly in place.”

Advocate Vilasini Balasubramanian reflects on the broader historical transformation of the legal profession and the strides women have made over the past century. She notes that women in law have travelled a remarkable distance from the days when they were barred from practice altogether.

“Women in the legal profession have undoubtedly come a long way. From not being permitted to practice law until 1923, to gradually breaking into spaces that were once entirely male-dominated, the glass ceiling continues to be shattered,” she says.

However, she adds that the journey toward equality remains incomplete.

“True equality is still a work in progress, particularly when it comes to representation in decision-making bodies such as the Bar Associations. We are seeing a lot of women starting practice today, but the real issue is to ensure that the environment is conducive enough for them to continue to practice.”

Taken together, these perspectives illustrate a profession in transition.

The increasing number of women entering the legal field reflects undeniable progress compared to the early decades of the twentieth century.

However, the experiences shared by practitioners suggest that meaningful equality requires more than representation, it demands structural change in access to opportunities, leadership roles and institutional culture.

As the legal profession reflects on International Women’s Day, the question therefore remains open: while women at the Bar have undoubtedly broken several barriers, the journey toward true parity is still very much underway.