The sun., 1903-12-13
WOMAN'S GRASP OF THE LAW.
AN EXPERT TESTIFIES TO THE
ABILITY SHE SHOWS.
One Glass OF Men Led by Young Woman
Rich Women Who Study Law So - to
BE Able to Manage Their Own Business
Reasons Why Women study Law.


Reasons Why Women study Law.
In competition with nearly 200 men. a
young women leads the junior law class in
the New York University.
There is a general impression that the
feminine mind is less able to grapple with
legal rinciples than the masculine said
Prof. Ashley, dean OF the law school OF the
University. IL once had this idea myself,
but my experience here has taught me
better.
Taken collectively, the young women
who have attended our law classes have
almost invariably stood higher in their
studies than the men; and since have been
connected with the school there has been
no class in which the most brilliant man
has not been rivalled or surpassed by a
woman.
"The young woman who was at the head
Of her class last term has not lost her lead /,
although some very bright young men are
trying hard to wrest the honor from her.
The indications are that she will hold 1t
till she Is graduated.
II might mention number of instan ces
Of girls with exceptionally fine legal minds
The most brilliant student in law we ever
had at the university was woman. She
had taken up the law, not to practise it. but
merely to manage more intelligently some
property she owned.
"Not more than three or four OF the fifty
women now taking the law course intend
to embark in practice. A considerable
number are women OF means who don't
want to be altogether dependent upon the
lawyers in the management of their proper
ties. Others are business women who are
ambitious to acquire a good all round busi
ness equipment.
'More are in real estate than in any other
occupation. The number In our classes
who want to specialize in real estate law
has grown steadily within the last two or
three years.
that more and more women are entering
the real estate field. 1t seems to me 1t is
an excellent move.
"A woman, knowing more about the
needs Of a dwelling house than most men,
ought to be specially convincing In talking
I understand that a number of women
who have taken the law course here have
found this field lucrative one
Some OF our students are stenographers
in downtown offices. They have no in
tention of always being stenographers.
"They intend that knowledge Of the
law, for one thing. shall make them more
valuable to their employers and bring them
higher salaries. For these we have night
class
THE girls are very much in earnest.
Tired though they are from their days
work. they come here evening after even
ing. sacrificing almost all social pleasures.
II have often been asked If women who
show a marked talent for the study of law
aren't masculine in their mental makeup.
hnr tpI In nCy
effect. but it is quite mistaken.
"The characteristics suggested by. the
word strong minded have been wholly
absent from most Of our best omen stu
dents. They have been altogether femi-
nine. lacking none Of the little airs and
graces that make a woman charming,
Judging from the effects, l should say
that they devote as much time and thought
to their clothes as any of their sisters, and
yet l have heard them discuss involved
legal principles with a clearnees and
foToeflness that have caused the boys
to show to very poor advantage"