KEY POINTS:
The number of women lawyers in New Zealand is increasing rapidly - but males still rule when it comes to partnerships in firms.
Female admissions to the bar began to overtake male admissions in 1993, according to figures released yesterday by www.lawfuel.co.nz
That year, 266 women (52 per cent) were admitted to the bar, compared with 245 men (48 per cent).
By 2006 those figures had jumped to 464 women (61 per cent) compared with 316 men (39 per cent).
But despite this increase, the top positions are still dominated by males.
The law firm with the highest percentage of female partners, South Island-based Anderson Lloyd, said the strongest candidates applying for jobs were increasingly women.
Chairman Stephen Christensen said the firm had generous parental leave policies and it was important to create a workplace where women were happy to put down roots and build careers.
"There's a snow-balling effect, as you have more women partners, they become more influential and so the culture of the firm evolves and they have a role in setting its direction.
"Over the years, because we've got more women coming through, that's meant we've got greater diversity around the partnership table, a broader range of views."
Bell Gully partner Anna Buchly, 34, said she had always been treated equally in her workplaces.
She said there were a number of reasons why there weren't more female partners.
"In reality, some women don't want the job. They have the opportunity but they want to spend more time at home with their children, or they want to do different things."
Minter Ellison managing partner Mark Weenink expected the number of female partners to keep increasing as time goes on and more women come through law school. He said that out of the big six law firms Minter Ellison was the top when it came to the percentage of female partners.
TOP 10
Law firms with the highest percentage of women partners:
1. Anderson Lloyd 40%
2. Brookfields 35%
3. DLA Phillips Fox 28%
4. Minter Ellison 26%
5. Meredith Connell 22%
6. Simpson Grierson 16%
7. Chapman Tripp = 14%
7. Kensington Swan = 14%
8.Morrison Kent = 12%
8. Martelli McKegg = 12%
9. Buddle Findlay 11%
10. Bell Gully 10%
