Women in Law in Virginia
How women in law fare in Virginia — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.
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 Virginia modifies the baseline by -0.2% 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.
Virginia 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.
National headline stats (law)
Other fields in Virginia
Law in other states
Related pages
Frequently asked
What is the pay gap for women in law in Virginia?
Virginia’s overall pay ratio is 83.6% — a 16.4% gap. The gap within law follows the national pattern modified by Virginia’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.
How does Virginia rank on pay equity?
Virginia ranks #19 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.
How are women represented in Virginia politics?
31.4% of Virginia state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 3 women from Virginia 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