Experiences of female attorneys in private law firms: Exploring the phenomenon of the Old Boys Club

Abstract

Orientation: Female attorneys remain underrepresented at mid and senior-level positions in private law firms and must fiercely compete to advance in their careers. An informal but impactful barrier to their progress is the pervasive influence of the Old Boys Club.
Research purpose: The aim of this study was to explore female attorneys’ experiences and perceptions of exclusion from career opportunities in South African private law firms because of the influence of the Old Boys Club and to understand its negative impact on their career advancement.
Motivation for the study: While the exclusionary effect of the Old Boys Club has been documented in gender equality literature, there are very few studies that provide an in-depth exploration into whether these male-exclusive networks act as barriers to the advancement and inclusion of women in the workplace.
Research approach/design and method: A generic qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews as the data collection tool. Data were collected from seven female attorneys working in private law firms in the Gauteng region of South Africa. Themes were inductively derived from the data using thematic analysis.
Main findings: Results of the study indicated that female attorneys shared negative experiences of the Old Boys Club and viewed it as a barrier to career advancement in private law firms.
Practical/managerial implications: Private law firms need to actively strive to change their organisational culture so that social networking opportunities are inclusive and not directed at a specific gender. Addressing this will help to unroot systemic and structural barriers to women’s career progression in private law firms.
Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to literature on gender discrimination and systemic barriers to women’s career progression.