The International Day of Women Judges is celebrated on March 10th every year. In the year 2021, a resolution was passed in the UN General Assembly to consider this day the International Day of Women Judges. This day celebrates the inclusion of women at all levels of the judiciary to ensure that the legal system is developed, keeping the overall development of society in mind.
In this article, we are going to share a list of 11 famous female lawyers who have made an impact in this profession and industry.
List of Famous Female Lawyers in the World
Historically, women have always been subjected to discrimination and inequality in matters of legal education and practice. Some of the women mentioned in this article defied the norms and broke the stereotype to establish their presence in the generally male dominated industry.
Here is a list of 11 famous female lawyers who created a lasting impact with their work in the industry.
Charlotte E. Ray
Source: Facebook
Charlotte E. Ray is regarded as the first female attorney in the history of the US; she attended Howard University. She became the first black woman law graduate from Howard University in 1872 and also the first woman to be included in the District of Columbia Bar, although due to her gender and race, she was unable to retain clients. But her inclusion in the bar set an example for other aspiring females to pursue law studies and join this profession.
Belva Lockwood
Source: Brittanica
Belva Lockwood was one of the first female attorneys to run for the post of President of the United States. She is also famous for fighting against the then existing rule of not allowing females to practice law as a profession.
She was denied the right to practice law by the United States Supreme Court in 1876, which stated that only men had the right to do so, which led her to petition male attorneys and members of Congress to create legislation allowing women to practice law.
She was instrumental in the passing of the Lockwood Bill in 1879, which facilitated the admission of qualified women lawyers to the bar.
Constance Baker Motley
Source: Connecticut History
Constance Baker Motley was the first black female attorney to become a federal judge in the US. Also, she is the first black female lawyer to argue in front of the United States Supreme Court.
She was instrumental in fighting cases related to racial discrimination during her time at the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). Her efforts helped change the status of women and minorities in the legal industry.
Sandra Day O’Connor
Source: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Sandra Day O’Connor is the first woman to be nominated for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She was nominated in 1981 by former President Ronald Reagan. She retired from her post in 2006.
She laid the foundation for women to serve on the Supreme Court.
Anita Hill
Source: Brittanica
Anita Hill is popularly known for her testimony against Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. This testimony made Congress pass the Civil Rights Act of 1991, protecting employees against discrimination in the workplace.
Janet Reno
Source: Alex Wong—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Janet Reno was the first female Attorney General of the US, she holds the record for the second longest tenure as an Attorney General. She was appointed to the position in 1993. Before that, she was serving as a state attorney in Miami in 1978.
Reno is popularly known for the drug court model she established during her tenure in Miami, which was later replicated in other courts across the country.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Source: BBC
Ruth Bader Ginsbueg was one of the most prominent lawyers in the US who championed the cause of gender equality and women’s rights. She was appointed as an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton. At one point in time, she was the only female attorney in the Supreme Court.
Gloria Allred
Source: Wikipedia
Gloria Allred is an American civil rights lawyer known for her penchant for taking high-profile cases that often turn out to be highly controversial in nature. These cases mostly revolved around gender discrimination and the protection of women’s rights.
She is known for taking on cases of sexual harassment involving Harvey Weinstein.
Sonia Sotomayor
Source: Wikipedia
Sonia Sotomayor is the first woman of Hispanic origin to be nominated for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She was nominated by former President Barack Obama.
She always raised her voice for the protection of civil rights and the transparency of the court.
Loretta Lynch
Source: By Lonnie Tague for the Department of Justice
Loretta Lynch was the first black female to hold the position of Attorney General of the United States and only the second woman to do so after Janet Reno.
She was an advocate for pay equality and the representation of women in leadership positions.
Kamala Harris
Source: Brittanica
Kamala Harris is the current vice president of the US. She is the first female to occupy this position, and before becoming Vice President, she was a lawyer.
She served as the first woman district attorney in the history of San Francisco during the period 2004–10 and later as Attorney General of California from 2011–17.
Her contributions to the judicial system include creating a programme to provide first time drug offenders with an opportunity to rebuild their lives and also find employment. It was later adopted as a national model of innovation for law enforcement.
She was also instrumental in issuing several reforms for children by establishing the Bureau of Children’s Justice.
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