The Supreme Court Bar Association has extended the deadline for submitting responses to its National Survey of Women Advocates till February 15. The survey aims to document the lived experiences of women lawyers and support efforts towards a more inclusive and equitable legal profession.
The Supreme Court Bar Association has extended the deadline for its National Survey of women advocates till February 15. The extension has been announced through a circular issued by the SCBA, encouraging more women lawyers from across the country to take part in the survey and share their experiences.
The circular issued by SCBA states,
“Women Advocates are requested to extend their wholehearted participation in the survey. The objective of the survey is to highlight the lived experiences of women advocates ind to contribute towards building a more inclusive, equitable, and representative legal community,”
The SCBA has clarified that the findings of the survey will be carefully analysed and later presented at a National Level Conference, which is tentatively scheduled to be held in the third week of March, 2026.
ALSO READ: Bombay High Court Designates 13 Lawyers, Including Two Women, as Senior Advocates
The association has made the survey easily accessible through an online Google Form, which can be found here: https://forms.gle/Sz7sV36uRGKkbt3E8.
This is not the first time the Supreme Court Bar Association has undertaken such an initiative. Last year, the SCBA conducted a similar national survey that offered a data-driven insight into the professional lives of women lawyers in India.
The findings from that survey highlighted several deep-rooted issues faced by women in the legal profession, including gender bias, lack of leadership opportunities, career interruptions due to marriage and motherhood, and the absence of adequate institutional support systems.
The results of last year’s survey were presented at an SCBA event titled
“We Women Empowerment in Law: A Panel Discussion on Strength, Struggle and Success.”
The data presented during the event reflected a profession where women lawyers continue to face challenges that are shaped by societal expectations both inside courtrooms and outside professional spaces.
One of the most striking aspects of the earlier survey was its demographic data. Out of 301 women advocates who responded, a significant 84.1 percent identified themselves as first-generation lawyers. This highlighted the reality that a large number of women entering the legal profession do not come from traditional legal families.
As a result, many women start their careers without the benefit of established networks, mentorship, or financial and professional support that second-generation lawyers often enjoy.
Overall, the survey clearly showed that women lawyers continue to struggle against cultural, structural, and institutional barriers that make their professional journeys far more difficult compared to their male counterparts.
Issues such as persistent gender bias, the unequal impact of marriage and motherhood, limited representation in leadership roles, and the need for better workplace policies continue to affect women across all stages of their legal careers.
The survey also brought attention to workplace safety and well-being. Sexual harassment at the workplace was reported by 6.2 percent of respondents. Other concerns raised included mental health challenges, lack of proper training in court craft and drafting, and limited access to legal research platforms.
Despite these challenges, the survey revealed that many women lawyers still see a meaningful future in the legal profession. When asked about the possibility of moving from legal practice to the judiciary, 43.1 percent of respondents said yes, 31.2 percent said no, and 25.8 percent said they were still considering the option.
In another encouraging finding, 64.1 percent of the 295 respondents said they would advise their daughters or young girls in their close circles to pursue a career in law. This response showed that even after facing systemic difficulties, many women continue to believe that the legal profession holds value, purpose, and opportunity.
The survey also analysed career preferences among women lawyers. Out of 288 responses, corporate legal roles emerged as the most preferred option at 39.6 percent, followed closely by litigation at 36.1 percent. Judiciary roles were preferred by 13.5 percent of respondents, while 10.8 percent showed interest in academics.
When the data was examined on the basis of generation, clear differences emerged. Among first-generation women lawyers, 34.9 percent preferred litigation, 36.9 percent opted for the judiciary, 9 percent chose academics, and 18.4 percent favoured corporate roles.
In contrast, second-generation respondents showed a preference for the judiciary at 39.2 percent, followed by litigation at 29.4 percent, academics at 15.7 percent, and corporate roles at 9.8 percent.
Taken together, the findings of the SCBA surveys reflect both the struggles and resilience of women advocates in India. While systemic gaps and gender-based challenges remain, the data also shows strong aspiration, commitment, and belief in the legal profession.
With the extension of the survey deadline to February 15, the SCBA hopes to gather wider participation and stronger data that can help shape meaningful reforms and create a more inclusive and equitable legal ecosystem for women in the years ahead.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Women Advocates
