Higer boosts the number of women lawyers on Florida Bar committees
Higer boosts the number of women lawyers on Florida Bar committees
Michael Higer not only served as chair of the Special Committee on Gender Bias, but he is president-elect of The Florida Bar.
So while choosing lawyers to serve on committees, as well as leaders as chairs and vice chairs, Higer was focused on appointing qualified women whenever he could.
“It is our responsibility to ensure a level playing field for everyone, and that we are always mindful of affording an equal opportunity for all to be part of the fabric of Bar leadership,” Higer said.
Higer’s committee appointments represent an increase of 8 percent in women over the last five years. Of the 192 committee chairs and vice chairs for 2017-18, 51 percent are women.
Of the 2,218 total committee seats, 47 percent are women; and of the 1,387 committee seats appointed by Higer, 46 percent are women.
Higer’s appointments continue a trend of diversifying committee membership over the years to correct disparity of women lawyers in positions of power at the Bar.
• In 2011-12, of 2,128 committee members, 37 percent were women.
• In 2012-13, 38 percent of committee members were women.
• In 2013-14, 42 percent of committee members were women.
• In 2014-15, 44 percent of committee members were women.
• In 2015-16, 48 percent of committee members were women.
Of all new admittees to The Florida Bar in 2016, 48.5 percent are women. Currently, of the total Bar membership, 62 percent are men and 38 percent are women.
