Female admissions to the bar began to overtake male admissions in 1993, according to figures released by www.lawfuel.co.nz.
That year, 266 women (52%) were admitted to the bar, compared with 245 men (48%). By 2006, those figures had jumped to 464 women (61%) compared with 316 men (39%).
But despite the increase, the top positions are still dominated by men.
The law firm with 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 snowballing 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 (34) said she had always been treated equally in her workplaces.
‘‘I've never found I've been treated in a different manner because I am a woman. My view for women is that you have the choice what you want to do. Whether it's to stay at home with your children, whether it's to have a career, whether it's to have both".
‘‘The key thing is that we have the choice.''
She said there were several reasons why there were not 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. It's their personal choice.''
Minter Ellison managing partner Mark Weenink said the ‘‘glass ceiling'' in law firms had lifted somewhat, but there was still a disproportionate number of male partners.
But he expected the number of female partners to keep increasing as time went on and more women finished law school.
‘‘Times have changed, even in the last 5-10 years. There's more flexible working choices and the ability for women to go back to work and have successful careers [after having children]".
