Empowering Women in Pro Bono and the Law: VLJ's Commitment to Gender Equality
March 31, 2025
This article is made possible by the generous support from Taylor Tufano at 9Sail.
Gender equality in the legal profession has progressed far, but the work is not nearly finished—most particularly at the highest levels of leadership and decision making. At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), as a women-led organization, we believe equal opportunity in the practice of law is not just an ethical must but a necessary foundation for a more diverse and equitable society and profession. Through our pro bono efforts, leadership roles, and commitment to raising up the next generation of women attorneys, VLJ is dedicated to advancing gender equality so women can lead, grow, and be heard, from the courtroom to the board room.
The Lay of the Land: Gender Equality in the Legal Profession
Despite having more women enter the legal profession, gender imbalance persists, especially in more senior roles. While 55% of all graduates from law school in 2023 were women and over 50% were law firm associates, women comprise only about 23% of equity partners in large firms, according to the American Bar Association. This gap is narrower in the corporate sector: in 2021, women filled half of the general counsel positions at the 500 largest corporations in the United States. While there has been headway made, wage gaps, discrimination in the workplace, stereotypical gender roles, caregiving, and underrepresentation in prominent legal cases continue to be barriers to career advancement for women attorneys. The solution to these barriers is change in the profession and workplace, with pro bono being an unexpected, yet powerful way to make an impact.
Powering Pro Bono By Empowering Women
Pro bono (taken from the Latin pro bono publico, meaning “for the public good”), is a powerful equalizer within the law. It creates opportunities for attorneys to take on leadership roles, manage high-profile cases, and gain courtroom experience that often eludes firm associates. VLJ’s programs also offer opportunities to advocate for gender-based causes—including those that may be considered specialized such as vacatur of criminal records for survivors of human trafficking or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status—finetuning their skillset while addressing unmet civil legal needs. Interestingly, about 58% of VLJ’s volunteers are women and 63% of our volunteers who donated 25 hours or more of service are women. Case by case, brick by brick, pro bono bridges the diversity and inclusion gap by offering an avenue for women attorneys to lead, mentor, and drive long-term change.
How VLJ Addresses the Civil Legal Issues that Impact Women
VLJ limits our services to people experiencing poverty. Because women and their children are disproportionately impacted by poverty, this means that all of VLJ's programming is focused on women. In 2024, 61% of the clients VLJ served were women. Our programs provide essential legal assistance to survivors of human trafficking and other forms of violence, women veterans, and women who are facing complex family law and consumer debt issues. VLJ's Tenancy Program helps women—who are statistically more likely to be single heads of households—fight unjust evictions and maintain stability for their families. In 2024, 85% of the clients served through VLJ’s New Jersey Survivors Justice Program and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program and 74% of the clients we served with eviction defense matters were also women. By delivering access to justice in these and other areas, VLJ not only helps women facing destabilizing and costly civil legal problems, we also work toward breaking systemic and generational cycles of inequality. Learn more about our programs here.
Did you know, in 2024, 61% of VLJ’s clients identified as women?
Women's Leadership Within VLJ
Women play a central role in VLJ’s leadership and history, shaping our mission and moving the organization forward. Our executive director, board members, and leadership team are dedicated to ensuring VLJ reflects a commitment to gender equality and access to justice. VLJ’s leadership team consists of eight staff members with seven of them women; VLJ’s Board of Trustees has 27 members with 17 of those women (63% women.) VLJ’s executive leadership sees 4 of the five positions held by women (chair, vice chair, secretary, and executive director). Ninety-one percent (91%) of VLJ staff are women (21 out of 23 staff members.).
With women at the helm, VLJ fosters an environment where diverse perspectives guide policy, workplace culture, program development, and strategic planning. This insight, sadly missing from traditionally governed organizations, strengthens our impact while also setting an example for the broader legal community. In short, inclusive leadership works (and it works really well). When you have diverse, talented leadership, not only are your people better, so are your ideas. Take for example VLJ’s four-day work week, a purposeful move toward a more gender-equitable work week for women who regularly come home to a second shift of unpaid caregiving and family responsibilities.
Mentorship and Professional Development
VLJ actively supports the professional development of our staff and volunteers through mentorship and training programs. A large number of our volunteer and staff mentors are women, so we can easily connect our women attorneys with experienced mentors to help them develop advocacy skills, gain the confidence to assume leadership roles, and sometimes even help them navigate their careers. Our efforts also equip women attorneys with the tools needed to provide effective pro bono services while advancing their own careers. As it turns out, more law firms are requiring their associates and partners to do pro bono every year and many firms use it as a factor in evaluating partnership roles; it goes to show that pro bono is a motivating factor in moving up the ranks and pro bono work can contribute to greater diversity in senior legal roles.[i]
Breaking Through Barriers to Pro Bono
All attorneys face competition between professional and personal responsibilities and women are more likely to also come home to a second shift of caregiving roles for children and aging parents. With billable hour requirements, family demands, and career expectations, sometimes it is difficult to squeeze in pro bono. VLJ meets these competing time demands head on by offering flexible volunteer opportunities, virtual training sessions, and a “teamwork makes the justice dream work” approach that enables attorneys to more comfortably and easily participate. By providing a flexible and supportive environment, VLJ opens the door for more women to engage in pro bono while balancing their other obligations. Read more about the benefits of pro bono volunteering.
Become a Pro Bono Volunteer with VLJ
At VLJ, we believe empowering women in pro bono strengthens the legal profession, the rule of law, and ultimately, society as a whole. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or direct legal assistance, women lawyers play an important role in expanding access to justice. If you are a lawyer who wants to make a difference, join us. Learn more about why pro bono matters and how you can get involved.
By promoting gender equality and supporting women in pro bono, VLJ is creating a future where all lawyers—regardless of gender—can thrive and give back . . . because justice demands nothing less.
[i] See page 15 of the Pro Bono Institute’s 2024 Report on the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge Initiative.
AI disclaimer: This content was drafted with the assistance of AI. The content has been reviewed, personalized, and edited by a human.
