By Shirley Mays
Welcome to Women’s History Month! Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. It started as a week-long celebration in 1980 the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.
As a lawyer, I am intrigued by the evolution of women in the law. In 1638, Margaret Brent became the first female to practice law in colonial America when she was named the executor of the estate of Lord Calvert, who was the governor of the Maryland Colony. Records indicate Brent’s practice included more than 100 court cases in Maryland and Virginia.
Ada Harriet Miser Kepley was the first American woman to graduate from law school. She graduated in 1870 with a law degree, from what is today Northwestern University School of Law. Upon graduation, she was not able to practice due to a state court rule that denied women admittance to the bar.
Charlotte E. Ray was the first black
