Who was the first female lawyer in New York?

Asked by: Toby Harris  |  Last update: December 11, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (41 votes)

Katherine "Kate" Stoneman became the first woman admitted to practice law in New York, paving the way for thousands who followed. She did so against enormous odds: supporting herself as a teacher, she worked nights, weekends, and summers as a clerk to an Albany lawyer until she graduated in 1898.

Who is the greatest female lawyer of all time?

6 Women Lawyers Who Changed the World
  • Ruth Bader Ginsberg. A list of the top lawyers would not be complete without Ruth Bader Ginsberg. ...
  • Janet Reno. Janet Reno was an American lawyer that embodied the American work ethic and dream. ...
  • Sandra Day O'Connor. ...
  • Gloria Allred. ...
  • Kamala Harris. ...
  • Sonia Sotomayor.

Who was the first woman to get a law degree?

Ada Kepley

Encouraged by her husband to study law and join him in his practice, Kepley attended Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law, graduating with honors in 1870, making her the first woman to graduate from law school in the U.S.

When did the first woman pass the bar exam?

Once the bill passed, Foltz began her studies to take the California bar exam. Despite a frenzy of publicity, Foltz passed a three-hour oral bar exam on September 4, 1878, to become California's first female lawyer. The next day, Foltz was admitted to the California State Bar.

Who was the first female black attorney?

Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard Law School on February 27, 1872, becoming not only the first female African-American lawyer in the United States but also the first practicing female lawyer in Washington, D.C.

Twelve Years Later: Checking In With Five Female Lawyers | Op-Docs | The New York Times

19 related questions found

Who was the first female lawyer in the United States?

19th century. 1869 – Arabella Mansfield became the first female lawyer in the United States when she was admitted to the Iowa bar.

Who is the most famous black lawyer?

Thurgood Marshall

Perhaps none are more famous than his victory in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954, which overturned the “separate but equal” statute in public education established in Plessy v. Ferguson. He was nominated by President Lyndon B.

Who was the first black woman to pass the bar?

In 1872, Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard University Law School and passed the bar exam becoming the first Black female lawyer in the United States.

Who was the first woman at the bar?

In May 1922 Ivy Williams was the first woman called to the Bar and six months later she was followed by Helena Normanton, the first woman to practise at the Bar.

Who was the first female judge?

Annette Abbott Adams became the first female justice in California in 1942 when she was appointed presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, by then-Governor Culbert Olson. She was also the first woman to serve on the California Supreme Court bench as a pro tempore judge.

Who is the youngest female lawyer?

Aishwarya Bhati is the youngest female Advocate in India designated as a Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court. She is the Additional Solicitor General of India and is a prominent lawyer in pushing through reforms in law on abortion and making it possible for women to be inducted in permanent commission in the army.

Who was the first lady of law?

Mabel Walker Willebrandt (May 23, 1889 – April 6, 1963), popularly known to her contemporaries as the First Lady of Law, was an American lawyer who served as the United States Assistant Attorney General from 1921 to 1929, handling cases concerning violations of the Volstead Act, federal taxation, and the Bureau of ...

What actress has a law degree?

Gemma Chan

Before starting her acting career, Chan studied law and obtained her law degree from the University of Oxford Law School in England.

Who do lawyers marry most?

Of course, the first profession I looked at was lawyers. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that most lawyers marry other lawyers. But male lawyers also marry schoolteachers, secretaries, and miscellaneous managers. And lesbian lawyers marry people in other computer occupations.

Who is the richest female lawyer in the world?

It's Judge Judy. Judy Scheinlin is currently. estimated to be worth $480 million.

Who was the famous black judge woman?

Black History Month Spotlight: Constance Baker Motley, First Black Female Federal Judge. Constance Baker Motley was the first Black woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, and in 1966, became the first to serve as a federal judge.

What is a female bartender called?

bar·​tend·​ress ˈbär-ˌten-drəs. plural bartendresses. : a woman who prepares and serves drinks at a bar : a female bartender.

Who was the first woman to practice law in the US?

1869 – Arabella Mansfield became the first female lawyer in the United States when she was admitted to the Iowa bar.

Who was the woman who fought alcohol?

Carrie Nation, originally Carrie Amelia Moore, was born in Kentucky in 1846. Her name is also sometimes spelled Carry. She is most famous for her extreme opposition of alcohol and taking action by destroying bars and saloons with a hatchet.

Who is the famous lady judge?

Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg (/ˈbeɪdər ˈɡɪnzbɜːrɡ/ BAY-dər GHINZ-burg; née Bader; March 15, 1933 – September 18, 2020) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020.

Who was the first African American woman lawyer?

Black History Month Spotlight: Charlotte E. Ray, 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.

Who was the first Black woman to teach?

Susie King Taylor (1848-1912) was the first black teacher to teach openly in a school for former slaves. She was born as a slave on a plantation in Georgia, and later lived with her grandmother, who was influential in her education.

Who was the first black lawyer in New York State?

'A Trailblazer All His Life': NY's First Black Attorney, Admitted 175 Years Ago, Fought for Freedom, All the Way to the U.S. Supreme Court. George Boyer Vashon came to New York after twice being denied entry to the profession in Pennsylvania. His great-grandson is today a Duane Morris partner in Philadelphia.

Who is the most famous lawyer ever?

#1 Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was an American politician, and lawyer who became the 16th president of the United States of America. He passed the bar in 1836 in Springfield, Illinois, and began working under his wife's cousin, John T.