Excluded & Alone: Examining the Experiences of Native American Women in the Law and a Path Towards Equity

In 2015, NNABA conducted the first-of-its-kind study of Native American attorneys entitled “The Pursuit of Inclusion: An In-Depth Exploration of the Experiences and Perspectives of Native American Attorneys in the Legal Profession.” That research provided the first comprehensive picture of the issues confronting Native American attorneys across all settings, including private practice, government practice in state, federal and tribal arenas, the judiciary, corporate legal departments, and academia. Nearly a decade after NNABA’s comprehensive research on Native American attorneys was released, the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession and NNABA have collaborated to release what is only the second research study focused solely on Native American attorneys – and the first focused on Native American female lawyers – entitled, “Excluded and Alone: Examining the Experiences of Native American Women in the Law and a Path Towards Equity.” This research builds on the 2015 NNABA study, delving deeper into the unique experiences of Native American women who navigate the intersection of tribal identity, race, and gender in the legal profession. This study also explores the generational perspectives of Native American women and illustrates that, while progress in advancing Native American women in the legal profession is evident, it proceeds at a glacial pace.