Black women attorneys

The purpose of this study was to examine the career mobility patterns of African American women in different areas of the legal profession. Specifically, the study examined influences on their selection of the legal profession, their comparative mobility in different practice settings, the impact of racism and sexism on their mobility, and the effect of this nontraditional career on their roles as women.

Participants were 261 African American women attorneys from major cities in the United States including New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston. A range of specialties was represented.

The participants completed a mailed, precoded questionnaire covering the following topics: family background, educational history, political activism, influences on career choice, work history, work setting and specialty area, and marriage issues such as support from spouse and division of household labor. In-depth interviews were conducted with approximately 60 respondents, covering the above topics in greater detail.

The Murray Center has acquired transcripts of 12 interviews and computer-accessible data for 238 subjects.