For years, the stereotype on Big Law has been that it hasn't done enough when it comes to gender diversity – implementing diversity initiatives with varied effectiveness. Instead of seeing much progress reflected in the numbers, the data showed a year-over-year flatline on female headcount in Big Law and the data was particularly egregious at the upper echelons of firm partnership and management.

The new NLJ Female Scorecard data is in and it indicates that firms may finally be seeing some payoff to their efforts. Overall female headcount increased to 35% in 2017 from 32% in 2016 (an increase of 8% year-over-year and on par with national women in law statistics according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).*

*It is worth noting that there is some change in Female Scorecard firms annually, partially due to mergers amongst other factors which affects year-over-year trend data. In 2016, 254 firms recorded responses to scorecard while in 2017, 261 firms recorded responses. One notable example is Littler Mendelson, last featured on the scorecard in 2011 and who came in number 5 overall on the 2017 scorecard with 48% of their headcount female, 29% of their equity partnership and 54% of their non-equity partnership. Moreover, of the top 10 firms on the 2017 scorecard, 3 were new additions. The scorecard published in 2017 reflects data from the year prior.