Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-14
WOMEN AS LAWYERS.
PROGRESS MADE IN THE LEGAL PRO
FEssloN BY THE GENTLER SEX.

Some Of tie Women who Have Achieved
= ncce~- Tns 1sssi' Edassflse seeisfy q
" York; what IsHas Aeeonplissss
= How Its 4 FAirs Are Conducted.
AnlN4s is 10 dbubs hut tn path Of L.
woman who places herself outside Of the
pale Of convention is rugged and bristlIng
with thOrns, notwithstanding the advances
made by the sex in latter years. One needs
tho courage Of Joan Of Arc, the patience OF
Griselda and the persev erance Of Penelope
In order to make her mark In the world.
Shakespeare seemed to possess q pro
phetic insight into the future when he
created the noble character Of Portia to
cmbody the spirit Of Justice. However,
not until few years ago were the women
Of Europe or America afforded opportuni-
ty to appear in any court save that OF love
Women can scarcely be said to have dis
tinguished themselves in legal profession.
although statistics show that there ara
over 200 practicing law in the United
States. About 80 Of these women lawyers
are associated with their husbands, the
two forming a partnership for business as
well as for dofnesticity. In the west, wom-
en- have more chance of success tlan in the
conservative east. Women lawyers OF New
York have but little active work as yet.
They seem to be patiently waiting for that
tide In the affairs Of men Or 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 Le-
gal News, san authority upon nice points
Of law Mrs. Kempin OF the University
OF Zurich now lectures on law before Z
claeN OF men in one bf the Swiss UNIVERSE
ties. Mile. Chamin was the first graduate
Of n French law school, and Mile. Bilesco
OF Roumania is bachelor Of laws and as
such entitled to practice in the courts OF
that country. Many bryo female law
yers throughout Che United States have
accepted clerkships in law Offices in order
to 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 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-
ceivcd the idea Of paving tho way for those
women who wished to study law, hoping
TO 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
DR.. Mary Putnam Jacobs as treasurer. A
chair was endowed by the society, and
Mrs Emily Kempin was engaged to lee
ture. This class was, however, only de-
signed as a preparatory school and did not
pretend to 1T 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 representations OF, the
board of directors Of the Legal Education
society, agreed to receive women desiring
to become professionals into the law class
OF the university, where they are now ace
corded equal privileges with the male stu
dentx They are, however, nonmatrisaa~
lptes.. The arrangement has proved emf
hefft4y satisfactory to all parties. the wom-
On epercising happy and orderly infiu-
Ancpamong the maLsstudents. "a
y NJ, Kempin remained hut a yeaKein
this country and Professor Tiedman took
her place. The chair ut the present time
!, IL filed by Professor Isaac Russell, a man
sof rare attachments and grace of manner.
'Hislectures are delivered in such an easy
and pleasing style that the study, pf the
dry technicalities of the law becomes an
\ AGREEABLE task. lS !gga
THE lectures are given Mt II a. m. and
3 hsiii., the latter being designed for the
accommodation of business women who are
occupied during the day. No preliminary
examination 10 necessary In order to enter
this class. There efour courses of study,
Stkbeiiig the charges for each, or SEQ for
!. the four. There are 10 free and 90 half
free scholarships, which may be obtained
upon application to the president Of the
society, Mrs. Leonard Weber, whose resi-
tlence, Is - West Forty sixth street. A
'lprize scholarship of 5000, in the form Of
two years tuition iii the University Law
school, is annually awarded to the student
passing the hest examination. The meth
odd OF instruction are strictly academic,
and any legal question propounded by a
member of the class viii be discussed by
the lecturer. Many Of the students are
lveraing ON or are past middle age, al
though some Of them are young girls. "A
few Of these women intend entering the
nrcna OF Jurisprudence, others study for
!. self culture and legal knowledge in case Of
need. The law library Of the university is
open to both male and female studentsys q
ssss There would be fewer frauds perpetrated
upon unprotected women by INSCRIPTIONS
executors. trustees and lawyers had wom-
en- understanding Of the laws relating to
husbands and wives and knowledge Of the
difference between bond and mortgage,
stocks, commercial securities, etc. Men
unlearned in law acquire practical infor-
.na1afen by business contacts; which few
WOMEN have the opportunity of doing.
Not a day passes but the newspapers give
narrowing details Of the maladministra-
sion Of some womans affairs, by which
she loses her all. and study for rudimenta.
~ techhicalities OF common law would
1totNA great protection to women.
WOMAN success in the domain Of juris-
prudence remains to be proved, but there
is no reason why woman of average in
tclligence should not succeed in building
up rcinnnerative practice, provided she
il given an equal chance with her malls
sccnNaIetitors. s.s,s..ss
Statistics OF colleges have proved the
sli1tty OF women to cope with men in all