When does feminization increase equality? The case of lawyers

Our analysis addresses whether the legal profession can be classified as ex periencing successful feminization. Drawing on the work of Reskin and Roos (1990) and Wright and Jacobs (1994), we suggest that relatively successful feminization occurs where (1) occupational growth is rapid, (2) graduate an d specialized degrees are important, and (3) wages are increasing. We devel op an argument for the legal profession as a case of successful feminizatio n with data taken from the U.S. census 1970-1990 and from a cohort of lawye rs surveyed in 1984 and 1990 as part of the National Survey of Lawyers' Car eer Satisfaction (Hirsch 1992). Our results suggest that the legal professi on was on the road to achieving successful gender integration and feminizat ion during the 1980s. Overall improvements in the economic standing of fema le attorneys compared with males is occurring among women at or below the m edian in the earnings distribution and among elite lawyers at the top of th e earnings distribution. There is also evidence of a persistent "glass ceil ing" in the earnings distribution for women. Analyses of change in evaluati ons of legal work settings suggest that changes in earnings that favor wome n's successful entry into law are occurring in a context of growing dissati sfaction with legal work settings. We discuss the implications of our findi ngs for further analyses of the gender integration of male-dominated occupa tions.