New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-02
WOMEN WHO PRACTISE LAW.
But LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT IS Of
FERED TO NEW ASPIRANTS

THOSE WHO ARE SUCCEEDING FIND THAT IT rs
WISER To EMPLOY A MASCULINE PROXY
TO ARGUE CASES
II statistics and impartial authorities are he
credited. Il Is time 'or women who graduate from
colleges with the intention Of earning a living to
begin to look about for other occupation than
school teaching The pertinacity with which they
naturally continue 10 overcrowd this profession. It
is asserted by collegiate women who have given
the subject study. IS fraught with disastrous re-
suits. II is forc!r- many Of the highest teaching
attainment to accept low rate Of pay. and in
many cases TO be content with Inferior positions.
This d.scouragirg outlook is forcing more than one
young woman however rich In degrees. prizes or
fcllowshps. to seek other means Of livelihood.
Recently. a young Master Of Arts apparently
born teach perceivng little or no possibility OF
advancement in that line beyond board and
clothes turned 10 the study OF law With the hope
OF eventually finding in that held less competition
and larger pecunlary return. That women are
mentally competent to master the in;ricaces OF the
Law and try cases before a Jury OF their peers L.
row ancient history For years colleges and uni
verstles have been graduating women from their
schools ard the bars ofvarious states have been
admitting them practice The point at issue is not
her fitness for the profession. but IL there bread
and butter FOR her IN it, practice Undeniable Is
the ,act that to date woman lawyer has made
the New ork bar tangible impression or
scored what might BE considered material success
Il think the main reason lie women lawyers OF
New-Yor have not made the progress 20 which
their ability and industry entitle them" said Mrs
Clara Foltz who after twelve years successful
practice az the bar OF California came 20 this city
two years ago and opened Offices rs chiefly due TO
the fact tina; they have been intimidated by the
nl.conceaed. often rude opposition - the legal fra
ternity The New-York bar IS extremely conser-
vat!vc often 20 the verge u rudeness It's women
lawyers. happily unlike too many OK it, men. can
not forget their birth and breeding. consequently
they shrink from the tendency OF their brothers at
law 20 regard them as freaks. rather than their
mental equals. When woman takes an ONCE
and fails TO make the rent. wiseacres shake their
heads and say. I told you 80. no place For women.
WHO pays the rent OF tho boards Of kinder
garten lawyers while they are making poltca!
connections and erlarging their scGuaintances?
Some mother sister or oil aunt. some member Of
that incompetent; sex whom they would scorn 20
meet or equal footing IN the courts. women n
many Instances who have forgotten more law than
the kindergartrer Will ever know. advise every
woman who has academic training. a strong
ANALYTICAL mind and n natural bent FOR the law. TO
study and pract'se y. My progress from me out
set has been cha 'enged a. every step.
The post On o. he woman lawyer to-day Is eH-
ac.lv that Of ne woman physician twenty-five
years ago 81. who enters ne profession must ok
pect the rebuTs y ne pioneer she must pu' On
her war paint and hgh; % he end II she hopes 10
win"
Miss Iaviria Iauy -ook her degree IN 'h> New
York University Law School. which = 50 often
e--o,eo,,slr corf,uneed with the Womans Law
Class She was admitted 20 practice ias' year
She IS reputed 20 he the only woman who . sue
ccediug IN building up "A regular ana p'o"'h''e
practice She was practically reared IN the l"F
EMPLOYED ri an early age. as stenoS'apheF ana
typewriter In large ltw firm. she prepared papers
i'm tho rpoqt IMPORTANT cases W'hou. knowing tner
.-,. lc.,.l s,-n!fcan-e This mechanical pr"liH.!-
nary trair,-g was Invaluable when she hra.y IN
tered the Unworthy. Scarcely had 'he '''" ''-
,ul.ted - practice whca gao "-m "'fh "ht'h Hn"
had long been ss,,!ntei Dissolved - clients ".Te
ca.ehy va ny c'ri ,,-.g ,ft,'.as was
- - involved ln f.is manner SIZE B, ;. s'!-
aly stepping into practice ma ''e '.' 9'. 80.
law ya.d H.- f4.arc sens ps.'s' ag. Ms
Lily docs not hesitate 10 SAY, ".-.i" "
- ~ - livelihood There are Other th!ngs 10
liee more desirable - HoinAh y. rst.i -, -,
- ne law Experienc. has taught me- that II Is
.. me Interests of my eiIents 70 employ mascd-
line proxy rather than ~ AsleA. ~ 20 oi' - 10
referred TO as the lady. instead OF inc '''''' j"
There &, no TILED neld i law FOR w.m en-, ' a
her hana 20 the INK n.r eRan ' - y 'sces. arc
about a par with those - men y t.e rs shs
y'u ref ,ust as hundreds = mon DO every year
Miss Lew j. the ass slant attorney - me L"sa'
e. e. ., Ia among the legal fraternity as 'ths
orlv woman WHO - making niJi"y Inns I'M
81, f. h..au.e men lawyer. encounter me oitener
In the courts Than Other Non' la"y.rs NAY ,h'y
saia-y whcA uroa.t', me- from accepting fees
S~on, III clients r~-se II g. valuable ~Np"ri~i'e
10 = certain point but quite i.tcrrHi 'foin s".',
MS, AZ of'r~ IN ny oHu account ma waiting -,
clients or going our in inc highways in pursuit ''
''G'" Is Loev- practice +. confined 70 he municira
rAHl o.. - f q. F d. =
~, ,he Go~let 81 tlv which -caff'r"d among ne
eleven divisions % the Borough ~ Ne" fNFk S,e
prepares the ca-es. argues 'h~in ~ person ana y
res,inns,nl. f,r their disposal 81" has been
attorney for ne society - aft Au.uSJ and "sp
work neyeT ,ras"s She %s, prac,irsy rcare in
the law IS she q, the daughter ~ la"yrr ara
assisted IN Ms oai-e before ard 'hroNT aont n.T
esnec,,fiv he inrgons u tho German jewish ele-
ment whin ersey mske up the crn ao az me me
yrn"en she says that the has found only
courtesy sometimes Overwhelming In nor assoch-
The woman who does not want 10 argu. case. In
court can cultivate other departments or ths IhN
Inc W, ~ ihe couris Forensic ability
Another graduate q the New York University
Court l. Mi 9. Annette Fiske lnt"res, IN
patents led her 10 the study Of the law some
I. L~vonJ heir pale bat Miss Fiske holds that 80
lOnz as the MAKES woman anenaOle 70 me
Criminal court IS r 5nG w ~ fnsIr isnacy
Miqs Fiske has entered IN" arehh 7" "Sht "'' way
I. T. well for the young woman contemplating
Law, As i livelihood 10 note thnt in almost every
Instance whore women are sd,ceSsiui they nlve
bal more Or less association with the mechanism
md The routine Of legal practice before taking IT
no as a breadwinner.