Now Reading: Women outnumber men in top law firm hires for batch of 2026
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Women outnumber men in top law firm hires for batch of 2026
Women make up a majority of fresh hires at India's top law firms for the Batch of 2026, according to data compiled by RecTracker. Across 10 firms that disclosed gender data, 282…
Women make up a majority of fresh hires at India's top law firms for the Batch of 2026, according to data compiled by RecTracker. Across 10 firms that disclosed gender data, 282 women (57%) were hired compared to 216 men (43%). The combined hiring across these firms stands at 517 graduates so far, with total hiring at eight firms declining to 477 from 542 last year.
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas led with 100 hires, down from 170 last year, with a 63:37 ratio in favour of women. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas hired 92, up from 70, with a 60% female share. Trilegal hired 90, unchanged compensation at Rs 19.5 lakh per annum, with an even gender split. Khaitan & Co hired 85, down from 106, offering Rs 22.5 lakh per annum, slightly down from Rs 23 lakh last year. JSA, CMS Induslaw, S&R Associates, Argus Partners, Talwar Thakore & Associates, and HSA Advocates reported smaller batches, with women outnumbering men in most.
Several firms noted a rise in pre-placement offers as a key hiring channel. JSA also emphasised recruiting from state-level law schools alongside national ones. The figures come as campus recruitment for the Batch of 2026 draws to a close, with hiring volumes mixed across firms.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The shift towards more women hires reflects a longer trend in legal education, where women have outnumbered men in many National Law University (NLU) batches for over a decade. What matters now is whether these entry-level ratios translate into partnership diversity. Retention data remains scarce across Indian law firms, and attrition among mid-level women associates is a known concern. The next signal to watch will be the partnership elevation cycles at firms such as Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas in 2028-2030, when the current batch would typically be considered. Bar Council of India data shows women make up only about 15% of designated senior advocates, a metric that will test whether hiring gains hold over a career.
Source: barandbench.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
