The "motherhood penalty" refers to the disadvantages that working mothers face in their professional lives compared to their childless counterparts and fathers. Harvard Law School

Despite women outnumbering men in law schools for most of the past decade, many mothers in the legal field feel they're perceived as less competent and less committed compared to their male counterparts or childless peers. In fact, 60% of mothers working in law firms reported this perception, while only 25% of fathers felt the same. Harvard Law School

This perception can lead to several negative outcomes for mothers, including:

• Lower likelihood of being hired or promoted: Employers may assume that mothers are less dedicated to their careers, affecting their opportunities for advancement.Harvard Kennedy School GAP

• Higher professional expectations: Mothers might be held to stricter standards to prove their commitment and competence. Harvard Kennedy School GAP

• Lower recommended salaries: Biases can result in mothers receiving lower salary offers compared to non-mothers and men. Harvard Kennedy School GAP

Institutional factors, like the legal profession's focus on "billable hours" and societal realties regarding the division of home and family responsibilities between parents create a no-win situation for moms working in a law firm. Coughlin said “If we see that women are doing a disproportionate amount of the labor [at home] … — the invisible labor, the unpaid labor, the mental load — … [then] there’s just naturally less time available to do billable hours.”

These challenges contribute to the ongoing gender wage gap and highlight the need for systemic changes to support working mothers effectively.