Data · New Jersey × Law

Women in Law in New Jersey

How women in law fare in New Jersey — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.

81.2%
New Jersey overall earnings ratio (women/men)
Census ACS S2001
#28
of 51 jurisdictions for pay equity
Derived from ACS state ratios
18.8%
Unadjusted pay gap in New Jersey
Census ACS
32.5%
Women in New Jersey’s legislature

The state-adjusted picture

Women in law nationally face the same structural conditions as women in every other field — but the overall wage environment in New Jersey modifies the baseline by -3.1% relative to the US average. A state where the overall pay gap is narrower tends to reflect narrower gaps within fields too, though field-specific dynamics dominate for specialized professions.

New Jersey has never elected a woman US Senator.

National context

The legal profession is half female by count and far less than half at the top. This page tracks the current numbers: who enters law school, who makes partner, who leaves, and what the pay actually looks like.

Full national data Women in Law: Numbers, Pay, and Trends (2026)

National headline stats (law)

56%
Women among US law school enrollments (2024)
39.1%
Women among all practicing US lawyers (ABA 2024)
24%
Women among equity partners at the top 200 US law firms
24.3%
Median annual pay gap — female vs male lawyers (BLS CPS)

Other fields in New Jersey

Law in other states

Related pages

Frequently asked

What is the pay gap for women in law in New Jersey?

New Jersey’s overall pay ratio is 81.2% — a 18.8% gap. The gap within law follows the national pattern modified by New Jersey’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.

How does New Jersey rank on pay equity?

New Jersey ranks #28 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.

How are women represented in New Jersey politics?

32.5% of New Jersey state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 4 women from New Jersey serve in the 119th US Congress.

Where does the national law data come from?

American Bar Association statistics; NALP Reports on Diversity in US Law Firms; Major, Lindsey & Africa Partner Compensation Survey