By local historian Bonnie Hurd Smith
For four centuries, women have fought for their rights and for equal participation in the legal system-- first as outsiders who could not speak in public, control their property, vote, or serve on juries. Women pushed for change. Eventually, they addressed audiences to end slavery and promote woman suffrage. Some of these reformers entered America's earliest law schools, becoming lawyers, judges, and elected officials who celebrated their hard won right to vote in 1920. Today, Boston women practice law and hold offices at the highest levels.
During its Centennial year, New England Law | Boston, in conjunction with the Boston Women's Heritage Trail, brings to life the stories of some remarkable women who continue to inspire a commitment to women's full participation in legal education, the legal profession, and elected and appointed office.
