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Barriers to Advancement

Findings from the 2020 Study of Gender & Racial Bias in Utah’s Legal Profession

Dr. Christy Glass
Professor of Sociology
Utah State University

Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Utah State University

Rana Abulbasal
PhD Researcher
Utah State University

Rachael Gulbrandsen
PhD Researcher
Utah State University

Brook Hutchinson
Undergraduate Peak Fellow
Utah State University

Project Summary

This study examined barriers to the advancement and retention of women lawyers in Utah. The following report summarizes findings from a statewide survey and in-depth interviews with women lawyers and judges across the state. To analyze changes over time and compare Utah against national trends, the survey replicated the 2010 Women Lawyers of Utah (WLU) survey and the 2018 survey administered by the American Bar Association (ABA). We find evidence of substantial gender and racial bias in Utah’s legal profession and minimal improvement over time on key bias indicators.