Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-05

MIC. NldA julie AC1AC4A14C
Lawson, so, slated to become
one of the two new District
Juvenile Court judges, passed
her bar exam and was licensed
to practice a month before she
was graduated from law school.
Mrs. Lawson's original inten-
ton was to earn the doctor
Of philosophy degree in sociol-
ogy. She switched to law, how
ever, because she could not
study graduate courses in So
GEOLOGY at night. She earned
two degrees in the legal field.
II was a social worker and
wanted to work toward my
doctorate in night school, but
law was the only subject that
I could study at night in those
days" she recalled. 81 was sin
gle then and before I knew it,
1 had finished law school. I
took the bar exam in Deem
Der. 1888, just to see how I
would do on it and to my sur
prise I passed. I was admitted
to practice in May, 1899. I
didn't get my law degree until
June, 1899.
II fell in love with the law
after I started studying it."
Pittsburgh Native
A native of Pittsburgh, Mrs.
Lawson was graduated from
the University of Michigan
with a BA degree in 1888 after
also attending Western Reserve
University. the University of
Pennsylvania and Fish Uni
verSity. She received a certifi-
cate in social work from Michi-
gan. She received her first law
degree from the old Terrell
Law School in 1899 and in
1850 she received the LID.
from Columbia University's
Law School.
Mrs. Lawson has had only
three jobs during her lifetime.
Her initial employment was as
a case supervisor for the Balti-
more Emergency Relief Com
mission in 1894. Then, for five
years. she was a special inves-
tigator for the Aid to Depend
ent children program for the
District Board Of Public We'll
fare. During three years Of
World War II, she was director
of the Division Of Review and
Analysis for the Presidents
Commission on Fair Employ
ment Practices.
Mrs. Lawson's professional
career reflects her philosophy
of life.
Talents to Community
II believe it is the RESPONSE
bility Of a citizen to use his
energies, abilities and skillS in
the interest Of the community
by providing leadership and
understanding the processes Of
government to help make de-
mocracy work." she said.
1T takes an active, informed
citizen to live comfortably in q
democracy and I don't think
anybody can afford the luxury
Of living o private life," she
continued. you have to In
Ivolve yourself with people, ideas,
issues and programs. I like to
see things move, change and
improve"
Evidence Of this attitude was
demonstrated in 1857 when
Mrs. Lawson became active in
John F. Kennedy's campaign
for reelection as the Senator
from Massachusetts. In 1860,
when Senator Kennedy, then a
candidate for President, an
nounced the creation of a civil
rights section Of his campaign
organization, he named Mrs.
Lawson its chairman. Under
her direction, the section car
ried out important research
assignments and helped line up
the Negro vote for Mr.. Kennedy.
During the campaign. she
was one of Mr.. Kennedy's top
advisers and one Of the most
active workers in the primaries
in Oregon, Wisconsin and West
Virginia.
Mrs. Lawson takes time from
her law practice for civic work.
Former vice president of the
800, 000-member Nation a
Council of Negro Women, she
continues as its general counsel
and head of its Educational
Foundation.
Another interest of Mrs
Lawson is the Citizens Small
Business Investment Co., q
Washington organization which