Women are making their way higher and higher in worlds that were previously dominated by men. In the past, men were the ones who made it as representatives of the law, simply because they were seen as much more powerful and influential than women.
That being said, now women make up 37.4% of the lawyers, a number that is steadily growing every year. And today, we’ll be talking about 9 women who made a big name for themselves in the legal world.
- Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama wasn’t only the First Lady of the U.S. She was also a very successful lawyer herself. Michelle got her Juris Doctor degree in 1988, after attending classes at the Harvard Law School. She became a source of inspiration for women all over the world, as she advocated for education and poverty awareness.
- Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is the first Latina woman to have become an Associate of Justice at the U.S. Supreme Court. She got her law school degree at Yale Law School, and then took the New York bar in 1988. Eventually, she would become a figure of importance among female ex-pats in the U.S., and was also a federal district judge.
- Elizabeth Warren
Many people know Elizabeth Warren as being the U.S. Senator of Massachusetts in 2013, but not everyone knows that she is also a very distinguished female lawyer. Her specialization is bankruptcy and personal law, and she had even been teaching law to aspiring lawyers – at the Harvard Law School, no less. A woman of great spirit and with a successful career, Elizabeth Warren gained the respect of many of her colleagues.
- Bette Peterson
Bette Peterson was originally a registered nurse before she went to law school, specializing in personal injury and medical malpractice. She is also part of the American Association of Justice, as the executive committee. She mentors women lawyers all over the world, holding meetings in different areas such as California. She mentored and held meetings for several Monterey personal injury lawyers, as well as other communities, which raised her status in the lawyer world.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is known as the first Jewish lawyer and jurist, and also an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She earned her degree at Harvard Law School and is an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights. She is a role model for many women, whether in the law community or simply for her clients.
- Michele Bachmann
Born Michele Marie Amble, Michele Bachmann is a former politician and attorney. She is also a member of the Republican Party, and in 1986 she earned her Juris Doctor degree at the William & Mary Law School, getting a Master of Laws. Afterward, she worked as a lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service, which raised her reputation within the law industry.
- Margaret Thatcher
Born Margaret Hilda Roberts, Margaret Thatcher was the first woman Prime Minister in the United Kingdom, but also a female lawyer. At some point in her career, she had a certain nickname that set her as a strong figure – namely, the Iron Lady. She specialized mostly in taxation, and was a controversial lady and offered lots of financial tips for people who followed her career.
- Laura Ingraham
Born in 1963, Laura Ingraham is a former attorney and conservative radio and TV host for talk shows. She got her degree from the Virginia School of Law and became a law figure that influenced women and men alike. She would also host numerous talk shows, such as the Laura Ingraham Show and Ingraham Angle.
- Judith Sheindlin
Judith Sheindlin is an American prosecution lawyer, which also made a career as a family court judge. Judith passed her bar in 1965, the same year when she got her Juris Doctor degree. She made multiple appearances on TV and was known across the US as Judge Judy. She held several TV courtroom series where she showed her experience as a criminal court judge, and many men and women alike saw her as a highly influential law figure.
The Bottom Line
Women have long since made their way in various industries, and slowly but surely they have conquered the law community as well. These women had enough willpower and perseverance to change the world and influence numerous lives – men and women alike. And all they did was pursue a law degree that opened a door for them.
Edited and approved.
