The Commission was created in August 1987 to assess the status of women in the legal profession, identify barriers to advancement, and recommend to the ABA actions to address problems identified. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first chair of the Commission, set the pace for the Commission to change the face of the legal profession by issuing a groundbreaking report in 1988 showing that women lawyers were not advancing at a satisfactory rate. From this report, the Commission found that a variety of discriminatory barriers remained a part of the professional culture, the significant increase in the number of women attorneys would not eliminate these barriers and a thorough reexamination of the attitudes and structures in the legal profession was needed.

CWP is interested in providing non-financial support to programs and projects that advance its mission. We invite you to tell us about your programs, projects, and publications! If you are interested in the CWP’s co-sponsorship of your program or project, please click here to submit a proposal. Please note that all proposals must be in compliance with ABA policies and procedures. Non-ABA members should contact Melissa Wood at woodm@staff.abanet.org.

Monetary contributions to the Commission on Women are tax deductible if payable through the Fund for Justice and Education (FJE). Payments for Commission events and programs may also be tax deductible if made to the FJE with notation of the name of the Commission event. This will ensure that funds are applied to the Commission account.

Any proceeds from Commission events or publications will go towards the projects of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession.

View our Commission brochure.

View the Commission's strategic mission and goals