Almost half of men automatically assume people working in the legal profession are male, according to new research from the University of Law (ULaw).

The study into public perceptions of what a modern day legal professional looks like – timed to coincide with International Women’s Day – found that just 4% of men surveyed picture someone working in the legal industry as female, compared to 42% who said they picture someone in the industry to be male.

Almost half of respondents (48%) said that when they pictured a legal professional, they automatically thought of someone white. The survey also showed that only a quarter of females see themselves as fully represented in the legal industry, with one in 10 saying they don’t feel represented at all. In addition, only 6% of respondents said they expect someone in the legal industry to come from a working class background.

Patrick Johnson, director of equality, diversity and inclusion at ULaw, said the research was aimed at challenging these perceptions and to demonstrate that a career in law is open to anyone, no matter their background.

Johnson said: “Whilst there’s always room for progress and improvement in the industry, looking at our current students provides a promising picture for the future of our profession. Amongst our current cohort, 77% of undergraduate and 67% of our postgraduate students are female.”

He added: “We’re committed to impacting change in our industry. We’re investing in initiatives such as our upcoming Diversity Matters events and working with leaders in equality and diversity to continue amplifying voices that need to be heard.”

A number of law firms – notably in the US and the UK – have been stepping up their diversity and inclusion efforts by publishing targets. They include Clifford Chance, which pledged in July last year that at least 40% of its global partners would be women by 2030.

Last month Dentons named Claire Armstrong as its new Scotland managing partner, completing an all-female leadership team north of the border while US firm Robinson+Coe elected its first female managing partner in its 175-year history – litigation lawyer Rhonda Tobin.

Hogan Lovells, meanwhile, named Paris IP partner Marie-Aimée de Dampierre as its next chair, following in the footsteps of Norton Rose Fulbright, which appointed US head of employment Shauna Clark as its next US and global chair back in December – the first woman of colour to hold either role.

Last September, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer named Georgia Dawson as its new senior partner, the first woman to lead a magic circle firm.

Further reading

The Global Legal Post timeline: ESG and the law