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Almudena Arpón de Mendívil highlights the risk of female talent leaving the legal profession | The Global Legal Post
18 March, 2026
The International Bar Association (IBA)’s Legal Policy & Research Unit launched its report, “Raising the Bar: Women in Law” in London. The study reveals that nearly one in five women lawyers plan to leave the profession due to workplace issues, including lack of work‑life balance, excessive workloads, and persistent gender biases.
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil, partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo and former president of the IBA, attended the event and emphasized that these figures represent a critical challenge for the legal industry: retaining female talent and fostering a fairer professional environment. She highlighted the importance of law firms implementing effective measures on flexibility, mentoring, objective evaluation systems, and inclusion policies to reduce turnover and strengthen diversity in senior positions.
The report further stresses that, despite recent progress, women still do not reach the most senior positions across the legal sector, primarily due to discriminatory obstacles. The former president stated that “the legal sector cannot afford this contradiction and should lead by example. With increased awareness around discrimination, it is time to take decisive action.”
This discussion is part of a broader debate on gender equality in the legal profession, where clear career development strategies and an inclusive organizational culture are key factors to retaining talent and promoting a more diverse and sustainable legal sector.
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