The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-06-08
WOMEN AS LAWYERS.
PROGRESS MADE IN THE LEGAL PRO-
FessloN BY THE GENTLER SEX.
some Of the Women Who Have Achieved
success-rhe Legal Education Society of
New York; What 1t Has Accomplished
and How Its Affairs Are Conducted.

success-The Legal Education Society OF
New York; What 1t Has Accomplished
and How Its Affairs Are Conducted.
There is no doubt but the path of the
woman who places herself outside of the
pale OF convention is rugged and bristlng
with thorns, Notwithstanding the advances
made by the sex in 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 to possess a pro-
phetic insight into the future when he
created the noble character of Portia to
embody the spirit of justice However,
not until few years ago were the women
oil Europe or America afforded opportuni-
W TO appear in any court save that of love.
Women can scarcely be said to have dis
tinguisned themselves in legal profession,
although statistics show that there are
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 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 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 Lee
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 bachelor of laws and as
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
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
a 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 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 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 n woman. Chan
cellor McCracken of the University of the
City of New York, with characteristic gem
erosity, upon the representation 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 &C
corded equal privileges with the male stu
dents. They are, however. nonmatricu-
lates. The arrangement has proved emf
nently satisfactory to all parties, the wom-
en- exercising a happy and orderly infu-
ence among the male students
Mrs. Kempin remained but n year in
this country, and Professor Tiedman took
her place. The chair at the present time
is filed by Professor Isaac Russell, a man
of rare attachments and grace of manner.
His lectures are delivered in such an easy
and pleasing style that the study of the
dry technicalities of the law becomes an
agreeable task.
The lectures are given at II a. m. and
s p. M, the latter being designed for the
accommodation of business women who are
occupied during the day. No preliminary
examination is necessary in order to enter
this class. There are four courses of study
So being the charges for each, or $50 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-
dence is 25 West Forty-sixth street. A
prize scholarship of 5000, in the form Of
two years tuition in the University Law
school, is annually awarded to the student
passing the best examination. The meth
DDS of instruction are strictly academic,
and any legal question propounded by a
. member of the class will be discussed by
the lecturer Many of the students are
verging on or are past middle age, al
though some of them are young girls. A
few of these women intend entering the
arena of Jurisprudence, others study for
self culture and legal knowledge in case OF
need. The law library of the university is
There would be fewer frauds perpetrated
upon unprotected women by INSCRIPTIONS
, executors, trustees and lawyers had WON
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
r nation by business contacts, which few
7 women have the opportunity of doing
Not day passes but the newspapers give
narrowing details of the maladministra
ton Of some woman's affairs, by which
she loses her all. and study for rudimenta
ry technicalities of common law would
! prove great protection to women.
/ Woman's success in the domain of juris
/ prudence remains TO be proved, but there
! is no reason why woman of average in
| telligence should not succeed in building
up a remunerative practice, provided sh'
/ is given an equal chance with her mali
e competitors.
Statistics of colleges have proved thu
ability of women to cope with men in al
the departments of study, her average out
: ranking the male students, and it is no
too much to predict that we shall produc
women lawyers. peers Of the best anon!
men.-Countess de Montaign in Jennes
j Mfllarfu Nforth1x-