The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-28
200 WOMEN LAWYERS.
Progress Made in the Legal Pro-
fession by the Gentle Fe-
male Sex.
Some OF tho Women Who Have
Achieved Notable Sue
cess I'm It
The Legal Kdueatisn Society % New York
What Has Desn Accomplished
How Conducted.

There IL no doubt but the path Of the
woman who places herself outside Of the
pale Of convention Is rugged and bristling
with thorns, Notwithstanding the advances
made by the sex Ia latter years. One needs
the courage Of Joan Of Arc, the patience Of
Griselda and the perseverance Of Penelope
in order TO make her mark in the world.
Shakespeare seemed 20 possess . pro-
phetic insight into the future when he
created the noble character Of Portia TO
embody the spirit Of justice. However,
not until feE years ago were the women
Of Europe or America afforded opportuni-
~ 60 appear il any court save that OF love
Women can scarcely be said 70 have dis
tinRuished themselves In legal profession.
although statistics show that there are
over 200 practicing law ia the United
States About 80 OF these women lawyers
are associated with their husbands the
two forminga partnership for business M
well a. for domesticity. In the west. wom-
en- have more chance Of success than in the
conservative east. Women lawyers OF New
York have but little active work as yet
They seem 20 be patiently waiting for that
tide in the affairs Of men OF women which
"leads on to fortune"
Mrs Belva Lockwood Of Washington
and Miss Phoebe Couzins of ST. Louis are
both lawyers Of no mean reputation. Mrs.
Myra Bradwell, editor Of the Chicago lie
gal News, is an authority upon nice points
Of law. Mrs. Kempin Of the University
of Zurich now lectures on law before a
class OF men in one of the Swiss UNIVERSE
ties. Mile. Chamin was the first graduate
Of French law school, and Mile. Bilesco
Of Roumania is a bachelor of laws and az
such entitled to practice in the courts Of
that country. Many embryo female law
yers throughout the United States have
accepted clerkships in law offices in order
20 gain experience and confidence.
Since 1890 women have been enabled to
study Jurisprudence In the state of New
York through the persistent efforts Of their
own sex. Mrs. Leonard Weber and other
women of means and benevolent instincts
conceived the idea Of establishing n sort of
free clinic or legal dispensary, where the
poor might procure reliable advice free OF
charge. Several ambitious young lawyers
offered their services, but soon wearied OF
n clientele which brought neither fame nor
money. In this dilemma the directors con-
ceived the idea of paving the way for those
women who wished 20 study law, hoping
10 enlist their services In ameliOrating the
wrongs Of the poor. Thus the Woman's
Legal Education society was established,
with Mrs. Leonard Weber as president and
DIR. Mary Putnam Jacobs as treasurer. A
chair was endowed by the society, and
Mrs. Emily Kempin was engaged 20 lee
ture. This class was however, only de-
signed as a preparatory school and did not
pretend to fit women for the practice Of
law. No college in the city Of New York
would at that time admit a woman. Chan
cellor McCracken of the University of the
City Of New York, with characteristic gen
erosity, upon the representation of the
board Of directors of the Legal Education