Massachusetts Lawyers
Demographic and Law Practice Data


Learn about the demographics and law practices of lawyers in Massachusetts.
This website provides information on registered lawyers in Massachusetts in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Explore six dashboards that include demographic, employment, and professional characteristics of lawyers in Massachusetts presented in tables, charts, and a county-level map.

Explore Data



DEMOGRAPHICS & PRACTICE
Image of purple bar charts.



EXPLORE BY COUNTY
Image of counties in Massachusetts colored varying shades of purple.



TRENDS & COMPARISONS
Image of several lines on a chart, with a purple line highlighted that shows an increase over three years of data.




Massachusetts Lawyers

Demographic, employment, and professional characteristics of all lawyers

Characteristics of





*Difference between all lawyers and selected group cannot be calculated due to suppression in one or both groups.
~Differences are not shown for the selected group of interest.
†Selected group of interest is suppressed due to sample size in order to protect confidentiality of respondents.

What data suppression means: Data suppression involves removing data due to low response rates in order protect the confidentiality of respondents. Results displayed as <0.1% or <1% indicate data suppression.


Bar Association

Demographic, employment, and professional characteristics of all lawyers by bar association

Characteristics of








*Displayed value is suppressed.
^Indicates not admitted in Massachusetts.

What data suppression means: Data suppression involves removing data due to low response rates in order protect the confidentiality of respondents. Results displayed as *% indicate data suppression.


County

Demographic, employment, and professional characteristics of all lawyers by county

Characteristics of








*Displayed value is suppressed.
^Indicates not admitted in Massachusetts.

What data suppression means: Data suppression involves removing data due to low response rates in order protect the confidentiality of respondents. Results displayed as <0.1% or <1% indicate data suppression.


County Map

Demographic, employment, and professional characteristics of all lawyers on a county-level map

Distribution of


What data suppression means: Data suppression involves removing data due to low response rates in order protect the confidentiality of respondents. Results displayed as <0.1% or <1% indicate data suppression.


Trends Over Time

Compare demographic, employment, and professional characteristics between all lawyers from 2022 to 2024



*Difference from 2022 to 2024 in the selected group cannot be calculated due to suppression in one or both years.
~Differences are not shown for the selected group of interest.
†Selected group of interest is suppressed due to sample size in order to protect confidentiality of respondents.

What data suppression means: Data suppression involves removing data due to low response rates in order protect the confidentiality of respondents. Results displayed as <0.1% or <1% indicate data suppression.


Compare to General Population of Massachusetts

Compare Massachusetts’ lawyers in 2024 to the general population of Massachusetts


*Difference between all Massachusetts lawyers and the general Massachusetts population for selected group cannot be calculated due to suppression in one or both groups.
^Non-heterosexual includes the sexual orientation categories bisexual, lesbian, gay, or homosexual, queer, different identity, and don't know.

What data suppression means: Data suppression involves removing data due to low response rates in order protect the confidentiality of respondents. Results displayed as <0.1% or <1% indicate data suppression.


Massachusetts Lawyers Demographic and Law Practice Data

Methodology

Data Source: Massachusetts Lawyers

This set of lawyer census interactive exhibits contains data from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Demographic and Law Practice Survey questionnaire about demographic, employment, and professional characteristics. Data were collected via a web or paper survey as part of annual registration. Prior to analysis, where possible, other text responses were recoded to fit existing categories.

Data on 71,692 lawyers are included from the 2024 registration cycle (November 11, 2023 – November 10, 2024). Data on 70,703 lawyers are included from the 2023 registration cycle (November 11, 2022 – November 10, 2023). Data on 72,317 lawyers are included from the 2022 registration cycle (November 11, 2021 – November 10, 2022).

Data Sources: General Massachusetts Population

Comparative data on race/ethnicity for the Compare to General Massachusetts Population tab are from the 2020 Decennial Census data from Table P2. Comparative data on gender identity and sexual orientation for the same tab are from 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Massachusetts data. Disability status is from the 2024 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium.

To facilitate comparisons with the general Massachusetts population, lawyers who indicated prefer not to answer were excluded. It is possible that 'prefer not to answer' responses are not evenly distributed among identities and that we may be underreporting lawyers who were less comfortable responding because of how they identify as compared to the general population.

Hispanic or Latino/a/e was asked as a separate ethnicity question in the 2020 Decennial Census, which is different from how race/ethnicity was asked in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) Demographic and Law Practice Survey where Hispanic or Latino/a/e was asked as part of a single race/ethnicity question. Respondents who indicated Hispanic/Latino/a/e as well as another race in the 2020 Decennial Census would be included in the Hispanic or Latino/a/e category, while similar respondents in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Demographic and Law Practice Survey would be included in the multiracial category. Due to the inclusion of these lawyers in the multiracial category, there is likely underreporting of lawyers identifying as Hispanic or Latino/a/e in the SJC Demographic and Law Practice Survey when compared to the general Massachusetts population. The 2020 Decennial Census also did not offer Middle Eastern or North African as a race option, so lawyers identifying as Middle Eastern or North African in the SJC Demographic and Law Practice Survey are included in the other race/ethnicity category when compared to the general Massachusetts population.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance survey does not currently collect data on gender identities beyond male and female. For comparison to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance survey’s sexual orientation categories, non-heterosexual lawyers include those identifying as homosexual, bisexual, queer, different identity, or don’t know.

Data Suppression

To protect the confidentiality of respondents, data are only presented in aggregate and suppressed at low response rates. When results are displayed for all lawyers (e.g., overall), we apply data suppression rules when there are fewer than 0.1% respondents in a category out of all Massachusetts lawyers. We increase the data suppression threshold to 1% of the sample when displaying data for a subset of lawyers (e.g., when viewing gender identity for lawyers identifying as Asian).

Measures

Measures with the following categories are included in the dashboard. Click the plus to learn more about each measure.

Age

Lawyers were asked in what year they were born. Age was calculated from the year of the registration cycle. Any lawyer under 21 or over 100 years old was removed from the sample. To facilitate interpretation, age was coded into the following categories: 22-34; 35-44; 45-54; 55-64; 65+.

Caregiver/Parental Status

Starting in 2023, lawyers were asked whether they are a caregiver to any household members or close friends/family members. Reported caregiver status categories include the following: caregiver for a child; not a caregiver; and prefer not to answer. In 2022, lawyers were asked if they had any children/stepchildren. Reported caregiver status categories include the following: parent of children or stepchildren; not a parent of children or stepchildren; and prefer not to answer.

Disability Status

Lawyers were asked whether they identify as a person with a disability and/or as neurodivergent. Reported disability status categories include the following: does not identify as having a disability and/or as neurodivergent; identify as having a disability and/or as neurodivergent; and prefer not to answer. Prior iterations of the survey only asked if lawyers identify as a person with a disability and did not include the term neurodivergent.

Gender Identity

Lawyers were asked to provide their gender identity. In 2022, respondents were asked an addition follow-up question on if they identify as transgender. Starting in 2023, respondents were not asked this additional follow-up question and instead transgender was instead included as one of the select all that apply options. Reported gender categories include the following: male; female; agender/nonbinary; genderqueer/gender nonconforming; transgender; different identity; and prefer not to answer. Transgender male and transgender female categories were combined to protect the confidentiality of respondents.

Race/Ethnicity

Lawyers were asked to provide their race/ethnicity. Any lawyer that reported two or more races/ethnicities, not including other, was categorized as multiracial. Reported race/ethnicity categories include the following: White; Asian; Multiracial; Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino/a/e; Middle Eastern or North African; American Indian or Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; other; and prefer not to answer. In a previous iteration of the survey, some lawyers were asked what race or races they consider themselves. Middle Eastern or North African was not an option.

Sexual Orientation

Lawyers were asked to provide their sexual orientation. Reported sexual orientation categories include the following: straight or heterosexual; lesbian, gay, or homosexual; bisexual; queer; don’t know; different identity; and prefer not to answer.

County of Residence

Lawyers were asked for their home ZIP code. Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties were combined due to the relatively small number of lawyers in these counties. All lawyers in the U.S. who did not provide a ZIP code in Massachusetts were coded as domestic, not Massachusetts. All international lawyers were coded as international. Reported county of residence categories include the following: Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket; Berkshire; Bristol; Essex; Franklin; Hampden; Hampshire; Middlesex; Norfolk; Plymouth; Suffolk; Worcester; domestic, not Massachusetts; international; and unknown.

County of Workplace

Lawyers were asked for the ZIP code of their primary place of work. Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties were combined due to the relatively small number of lawyers in these counties. All lawyers in the U.S. but not in Massachusetts were coded as domestic, not Massachusetts. All international lawyers were coded as international. Reported county of residence categories include the following: Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket; Berkshire; Bristol; Essex; Franklin; Hampden; Hampshire; Middlesex; Norfolk; Plymouth; Suffolk; Worcester; domestic, not Massachusetts; international; not actively employed; and unknown.

Employment Type

Lawyers were asked to best describe their current primary employment. Reported employment type categories include the following: law firm; private in-house; other government; non-profit organization; prosecutor; academic; legal services; court (judge or clerk); public defender; other; and not actively employed.

Practice Size

Lawyers were asked how many attorneys are in their practice, when applicable. Lawyers who indicated an employment type of academic or court (judge or clerk) were coded as not applicable. Reported practice size categories include the following: 1, solo; 2-5; 6-20; 21-100; 101+; not actively employed; not applicable; and unknown.

Position

Lawyers were asked to describe their position within their practice, when applicable. Only lawyers who indicated an employment type of law firm, private in-house, legal services, non-profit organization, or other government were eligible for this question. Both equity and non-equity partners are included in the same category. Reported position categories include the following: associate, staff attorney, or employee; partner, member, shareholder, manager, or officer; of counsel; not actively employed; not applicable; and unknown.

Registration Status

Lawyers were asked about their current registration status with the BBO. Reported registration categories include the following: active; inactive; retired; judicial (judge); clerk (not applicable for judicial clerk); active military; pro bono inactive; pro bono retired; admitted as foreign legal consultant – not admitted in Massachusetts; foreign legal consultant; in-house counsel – not admitted in Massachusetts. The category active military was added to the survey.

Practice Area

Lawyers were asked to select from a list of categories what they consider their primary area(s) of legal practice or other work. Lawyers were provided the option to select multiple practice areas. The list of practice areas includes the following: general practitioner: bankruptcy; business/corporate; civil rights; commercial litigation; criminal (prosecution or defense); divorce/family law; elder law; estate planning/wills and trusts; government/municipal; health law; immigration; intellectual property; juvenile law; labor and employment; personal injury; privacy & technology law; real estate; regulatory/administration; tax; worker’s compensation; and other.

Bar Association

Lawyers were asked about membership to any location-specific Massachusetts bar associations or any other Massachusetts bar associations. There are 47 different bar associations available to explore in the Bar Association tab.


Massachusetts Lawyers Demographic and Law Practice Data

About This Tool & Contact Information

About This Tool

Every lawyer registering in Massachusetts is required to complete the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Demographic and Law Practice Survey about their demographic and employment/professional characteristics as of November 1, 2020. This is pursuant to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 4:02(1).

This website presents interactive data visualizations that explore the information collected from this survey. Data preparation was conducted in statistical software programs (SAS and R). The dashboard was built in R Shiny. Data on 71,692 lawyers are presented from the 2024 registration cycle (November 11, 2023 – November 10, 2024), 70,703 lawyers from the 2023 registration cycle (November 11, 2022 – November 10, 2023), and 72,317 lawyers from the 2022 registration cycle (November 11, 2021 – November 10, 2022).

NORC at the University of Chicago worked with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Committee on Lawyer Well-Being to produce these interactive data tools. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, NORC has studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, NORC partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society. Read more about NORC here.

How to Use the Data Tools

The interactive data tools allow users to explore data for groups of interest using drop-down menus and/or filter lists. Once the applicable drop-down menus have been selected, the charts will populate with estimated percentages for the selected population of interest.

Users can hover over the bars (or county, on the map) to reveal a sentence describing the interpretation of the presented value. Also, view the notes at the bottom of each page to learn more about the suppression of values.

  • Massachusetts Lawyers
    • Use the drop-down menu to select a group of interest (e.g., Age 35-44).
    • Toggle between Personal Characteristics, Employment Characteristics, and Practice Area to see the distribution of those characteristics within your selected group of interest.
    • Toggle between years 2024 and 2023 and 2022
  • Bar Association
    • Use the drop-down menu to select a bar association of interest (e.g., Boston Bar Association).
    • Toggle between years 2024 and 2023 and 2022
  • County
    • Use the drop-down menu to select a county type (County of Residence or County of Workplace) and county of interest (e.g., Essex).
    • Toggle between Personal Characteristics, Employment Characteristics, and Practice Area to see the distribution of those characteristics within your selected group of interest.
    • Toggle between years 2024 and 2023 and 2022
  • County Map
    • Use the drop-down menu to select a county type (County of Residence or County of Workplace) and a group of interest (e.g., Age 35-44) to see the percentage of lawyers in that group in each county.
    • Toggle between years 2024 and 2023 and 2022
  • Trends over Time
    • Use the drop-down menu to select a characteristic to view trends over time for (e.g., Age).
    • Use the drop-down menu to select a group of interest (e.g., Caregiver).
  • Compare to Massachusetts Population
    • There is no drop-down menu.
    • On this page, users can see an overall graphic comparing lawyers to the general population in Massachusetts.


Contact

For any questions or comments, please contact

Heidi Alexander
Director of Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being
heidi@lawyerwellbeingma.org