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Women in Law History

March is Women’s History Month! 

GLS is 75% female, which is standard in the nonprofit industry with national averages around 73%. In the legal field, however, women make up only 38% of employees and 22% of partners in private practices, even though law school grads tend to be 50% female. Male lawyers earn more than female lawyers. White women are represented at higher rates than women of color.

Clearly, we still have a long way to go.

In light of this, GLS is celebrating Women’s History Month by taking a look at the women in law who have inspired us, broken barriers, and created opportunities for others to advance in the legal field.

 

Charlotte E. Ray

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1872: First African American female to earn a law degree in the U.S.

Ada Kepley

Ada Kepley
1881: First female to graduate with a law degree and practice in a court of law in the U.S.

Lyda Conley

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1909: First Native American female lawyer in the U.S. and to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court

Kuma Elizabeth Ohi

ohi
1937: First Asian American female lawyer in the U.S.
 

Jewel Lafontant

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First African American female lawyer to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court (1963) and the first female deputy solicitor general of the United States (1973).

Lafontant received a Candace Award for Distinguished Service from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1983.

Vilma Socorro Martínez

Vilma_Socorro_Martínez
First Latina American lawyer to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court (1977).

Martínez is civil rights activist and diplomat who formerly served as the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina (2009-2013).

Phyllis Frye

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First openly transgender female judge in the U.S. (2010).

On April 28, 2013, Frye was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Transgender Foundation of America.

Maite Oronoz Rodríguez

First openly LGBT female justice appointed as a Chief Justice in the U.S. (2016).

During her swearing in, Oronoz Rodríguez firmly declared that her "commitment will always be with those who demand justice, regardless of race, color, gender, nationality, social origin or condition, sexual orientation or identity, or political or religious ideals."

GLS Law Leaders

Betsy Baltodano

Paralegal

Immigration Unit

Betsy is a former Legal Director for the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nicaragua and UN Counselor.

She has worked in the legal field on and off for 27 years.

Brenda Rivers, FRP.

Brenda R

Senior Paralegal

Family Law Unit

Brenda has been a Florida Registered Paralegal for 11 years, has worked in the legal field with GLS for 30 years and been a notary for 32 years.

Robin Stover, Esq.

Deputy Director

Financial Stability & Housing Units

Robin went to law school at night for four years while teaching full-time to obtain her J.D. from Loyola Law School in California (not an easy task!).

She has been a practicing attorney for 33 years.
 

Rebecca Wilson

Paralegal

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Rebecca is a former Branch Chief at the Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel. She attempted retirement but became a paralegal for GLS two years ago.

She was a practicing attorney for 34 years.

Kathryn Hynes, Esq.

Kathryn

Staff Attorney

Birth Certificate Program

Kathryn is a former Executive Director and has experience running a partner practice in the legal placement industry. She came out of retirement just to run the GLS birth certificate program.

She has worked in the legal field for 35 years.

Mishell Brown, FRP.

Mishell

Senior Paralegal

Financial Stability

Mishell has been PAST (Paralegal Advocacy Skills Training) Certified in Public Benefits for 32 years and a Florida Registered Paralegal for 11 years.

She has worked in the legal field at GLS for 39 years.
 

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