When was the first African American lawyer?
Asked by: Marielle Carter PhD | Last update: February 20, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (40 votes)
The first African American lawyer in the United States was Macon Bolling Allen, who was admitted to the bar in Maine on July 3, 1844, and later became the first African American to hold a judicial post as a Justice of the Peace in Massachusetts in 1848, paving the way for future Black legal professionals like Charlotte E. Ray and Thurgood Marshall.
Who was the first black lawyer in America?
Macon Bolling Allen (born Allen Macon Bolling; August 4, 1816 – October 15, 1894) was an American attorney who is believed to be the first African American to become a lawyer and to argue before a jury, and the second to hold a judicial position in the United States.
Who was the first African American to become a lawyer?
Macon Bolling Allen (1816-1894)
Considered to be both the first African American attorney to practice law in the United States and to hold a judicial position, Macon Bolling Allen broke numerous barriers.
Who was the first African lawyer?
Clement Michael George Argwings Kodhek became the first African Kenyan lawyer in 1949 and was the 1st MP for Gem in Siaya. He represented many Mau Mau suspects in court. Argwings Kodhek Road in Nairobi is named after him.
Were there black lawyers in the 1800s?
Macon Bolling Allen is known to be the first Black man to become an attorney in the United States. In 1844, he was admitted to practice in Maine and later practiced in Massachusetts, where he became a justice of the peace.
Part 1: The first African American lawyer in Maryland
What is the B word for lawyer?
The "B word" for a lawyer, especially in the UK and Commonwealth countries, is Barrister, which refers to a specialist lawyer who argues cases in higher courts, distinct from a solicitor, though other terms like Attorney, Counsel, or even the pejorative "ambulance chaser" can be used, while "Esquire" (Esq.) is a title for any licensed lawyer in the U.S.
Who was the first black person to pass the bar?
In 1845, Macon Bolling Allen became the first Black person admitted to the bar in Massachusetts. However, it wasn't even the first place he was admitted to practice law. Allen became the first lawyer in United States History a year earlier when he passed the bar in Maine.
Who is the famous black lawyer?
Famous Black lawyers include trailblazers like Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice who argued Brown v. Board of Education, and Jane Bolin, the first Black female federal judge; prominent civil rights attorneys such as Fred Gray (defended Rosa Parks) and Benjamin Crump (George Floyd, Trayvon Martin); and notable figures like Johnnie Cochran (O.J. Simpson trial) and Barack Obama, the first Black U.S. President who was also a lawyer. Other key figures are Constance Baker Motley, Charles Hamilton Houston, and modern advocates like Bryan Stevenson.
Who was the first lawyer in history?
The earliest people who could be described as “lawyers” were most likely the orators of ancient Athens. They faced certain struggles trying to organize into a real profession. They had to uphold the “legal fiction” that they were merely ordinary citizens generously helping out a friend in exchange for a fee.
Which all blacks were lawyers?
Eric Harper was a 1905 All Black whose sacrifice is recognised in a Law Society project. 79 Eric Tristram Harper would have been the envy of his legal peers. A gifted athlete, champion hurdler, mountaineer, and member of the 1905 "Originals" All Black team, he was also a tenacious defence lawyer.
Who was the first female black lawyer?
Charlotte E. Ray (January 13, 1850 – January 4, 1911) was an African-American lawyer. She was the first black American female lawyer in the United States. Ray graduated from Howard University School of Law in 1872.
What percent of African Americans are lawyers?
Black lawyers were 5% of the profession in 2014 and 5% in 2024. That's far less than the percentage of Black people in the U.S. population (13.7%).
Who is the youngest black lawyer in the United States?
Haley Taylor Schlitz just became the youngest law school graduate in Southern Methodist University history and the youngest Black law school graduate in the country at only 19.
When were African Americans allowed to become lawyers?
Macon Bolling Allen was the first ever Black man to be admitted to an American bar in 1844. Allen accomplished many firsts in his legal career, considered to be among the first ever Black judges, practicing lawyers, and law office owners.
Who is the most famous lawyer in history?
There's no single "most famous lawyer," but Abraham Lincoln (U.S. President, "Honest Abe"), Thomas Jefferson (Founding Father, Declaration of Independence author), and modern figures like Johnnie Cochran (O.J. Simpson trial) and Clarence Darrow (Scopes Trial) are consistently cited for their immense impact and recognition, often blending legal prowess with political or high-profile trial fame, with ancient jurists like Tribonian also shaping law itself.
Who was the first black man to become a lawyer in 1854?
In 1854, Langston became the first African-American lawyer in Ohio. In 1888, he became the first African American to win a congressional election in the state of Virginia, having run as a Republican candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Langston served in Congress from 1890 to 1891.
What does the Bible say about lawyers?
The Bible presents a mixed view of "lawyers" (experts in the Law, or scribes), condemning their legalism, hypocrisy, and burdening people with complex rules (Matthew 23, Luke 11), but also highlights principles of justice, mercy, and advocacy for the vulnerable that align with God's character, with figures like Zenas being praised, suggesting Christian lawyers can operate with integrity, focusing on true justice over mere legal technicality.
When was the first black lawyer?
Macon Bolling Allen moved from Indiana to Portland, Maine in the early 1840s, where he initially was denied from the Maine bar because of issues with his state citizenship. Undeterred, Allen passed the examination for nonresidents in 1844 and became the first licensed Black lawyer in the United States.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer?
Yes, $400 an hour is a significant rate for a lawyer, often reflecting experience, specialization, and location, falling at the higher end of average rates ($100-$400+) but can be standard or even considered a "deal" for highly specialized work in major cities, while being quite expensive in other areas or for less complex cases. Factors like the firm's size, location (big city vs. rural), the lawyer's expertise (e.g., corporate, IP vs. family law), and case complexity greatly influence this rate.
Who are the big 5 lawyers?
"Big 5" law firms usually refers to the top firms by revenue/size, often led by Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins, with others like DLA Piper, Baker McKenzie, and A&O Shearman frequently in the top ranks globally, though specific lists vary, sometimes including firms like Skadden, Sidley Austin, or the UK's "Magic Circle" (A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, etc.). The exact "Big 5" changes depending on whether you're looking at US-specific, global, headcount, or revenue metrics, but the consistent leaders are Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins.
Who is the wealthiest lawyer in America?
There isn't one single definitive richest lawyer, as wealth fluctuates and definitions vary (practicing vs. retired, law-focused vs. business ventures), but prominent figures often cited include Charlie Munger (deceased, built wealth via investments with Berkshire Hathaway after law), John Morgan (billionaire founder of Morgan & Morgan personal injury firm), and Peter Angelos (deceased asbestos litigation pioneer).
Who is the most famous black lawyer?
There isn't one single "most famous," but Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice and architect of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, and Johnnie Cochran, known for his high-profile celebrity cases like the O.J. Simpson trial, are arguably the most widely recognized Black lawyers for their transformative legal impact and pop culture presence, respectively. Marshall is famous for dismantling segregation, while Cochran is famous for courtroom flair and high-profile defenses.
When was the first black judge in the USA?
In 1937, Hastie, a Harvard Law School graduate, became the first African American Federal Judge when President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him to the District Court of the Virgin Islands. Prior to becoming a Federal Judge, Hastie taught at Howard University, where one of his students was Thurgood Marshall.
Who was the first black female lawyer?
Charlotte E. Ray (born January 13, 1850 - January 4, 1911) became the first African-American woman to graduate from a law school, and the first to formally practice law in the United States in 1872.