As a woman-led and founded firm, we’re used to seeing women in law every day!
It has not always been common practice for women to join the bar: it took centuries to get here.
How many legendary women in law can you name?
Margaret Brent: first woman lawyer in the American colonies in 1648
Arabella Mansfield: first woman to be admitted to a state bar in 1869
Ada Kepley: first woman to graduate from an American law school in 1870
Charlotte Ray: first Black woman lawyer and first woman admitted to the District of Columbia bar in 1872
Belva Lockwood: first woman admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar in 1879
Florence Allen: first woman to serve as a state supreme court justice in 1920
Sandra Day O’Connor: first female justice for the United States Supreme Court in 1981
Alma Bell Wilson: first woman to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court (and later the first female Chief Justice of the same) in 1982
Janet Reno: first woman to serve as a United States Attorney General in 1993
This is just a small sample of the many bright minds and pioneering spirits who blazed a trail through the traditionally male-dominated field of law. We are so grateful to the women who have paved the way for us and generations to come!
While progress has been made, there are more paths to forge ahead.
It is estimated that approximately half of law firm associates are female, but the numbers are halved when it comes to equity and managing partners. TRF intends to be part of this changing!