Read current and past editions of NALP's annual Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms

Find additional LGBTQ+ resources here

Articles & Research

New NALP Research on LGBTQ Lawyers By Gender in U.S. Law Firms (NALP Bulletin+, November 2023)

NALP Research on Non-Binary Law School Graduates (NALP Bulletin, December 2020) — Jobs & JDs: Employment and Salaries of New Graduates — Class of 2019, features an expanded demographics section this year, including the first in-depth analysis of employment and salary outcomes for non-binary law school graduates. This article explores these outcomes in more detail.

What Do We Know About Transgender Law Graduates? (NALP Bulletin, December 2019)

LGBT Representation Among Lawyers in 2017 (NALP Bulletin, January 2018)

Representation of Women and African-Americans Among Law Firm Associates Increases Slightly but Remains Below Pre-recession Levels (December 15, 2017 Press Release)

LGBT Representation Among Lawyers in 2016 (NALP Bulletin, January 2017) — The overall percentage of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2016 increased by a small amount to 2.48% compared with 2.34% in 2015.

2015-2016 NALP Infographic: LGBT — Downloadable PDF (June 2016)

LGBT Representation Among Lawyers in 2015 (NALP Bulletin, December 2015) — The overall percentage of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2015 increased by a very small amount to 2.34% compared with 2.30% in 2014. However, most of the increase can be attributed to an increase among associates, from 2.93% to 3.08%. Representation of LGBT attorneys among partners was almost flat, and it decreased a bit among other attorneys.

New Research on Employment Outcomes for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Graduates (NALP Bulletin, November 2015) — LGBT graduates are much less likely to take a job in private practice and much more likely to take a job with a public interest organization.

LGBT Representation Among Lawyers in 2014 (NALP Bulletin, March 2015) — The overall percentage of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2014 increased to 2.30% compared with 2.19% in 2013. Percentages increased across all categories — partners, associates, and other lawyers — by about one tenth of one percent. Over 40% of offices reported at least one LGBT lawyer among partners and associates.

LGBT Representation Up Again in 2013 (NALP Bulletin, January 2014) — The overall percentage of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2013 increased to 2.19% compared with 2.07% in 2012. Percentages for both partners and associates increased. About half of offices reported at least one LGBT lawyer.

LGBT Representation Up in 2012 (NALP Bulletin, January 2013) — The overall percentage of openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2012 increased to 2.07% compared with 1.88% in 2011. Percentages for both partners and associates increased. Over half (56%) of offices reported at least one LGBT lawyer.

Most Firms Collect LGBT Lawyer Information, LGBT Representation Steady (NALP Bulletin, December 2011) — The overall percentage of openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2011 remained unchanged compared to 2010. A small increase in the percentage for associates was offset by a decrease at the partner level. Almost half (49%) of offices reported at least one LGBT lawyer.

Most Firms Collect LGBT Lawyer Information — LGBT Representation Up Slightly (NALP Bulletin, December 2010) — The overall percentage of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lawyers reported in the NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE) in 2010 rose compared to 2009. Almost half (49%) of offices reported at least one LGBT lawyer.