The Need for and the Purpose of the National Association of Women Lawyers
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Grossman, Emilie Bullowa, Margaret J. women lawyers. She generously offer-
Carns, and many others which space will ed a prize of $50 in gold for the best thesis
not permit listing. (from 1,000 to 2,000 words) on the sub-
ject of Adherence by the United States
Our honorary Kappa, Judge enevieve to the Permanent Court of International
Cline, is enthusiastic about the National Justice. This contest was open to any
Association, and thinks it can be ma~e an member of the Association or to any wo-
instrument to accomplish much good for man subscriber to the Journal.
The Need for and the Purpose of the National
Association of Women Lawyers
By Lillian D. Rock
It should be stated at the outset, and
the fact emphasized at all times, that The
National Association of Women Lawyers
is working with the American Bar Asso-
ciation, both in spirit and in policy. In-
deed, the great majority of our member-
ship are members of the American Bar
Association, cooperating with it and sup-
plementing it in a complementary manner,
earnestly endeavoring to gain recognition
-adequate recognition-for a MINORITY
GROUP OF LAWYERS-WOMEN LAW-
YERS!! And let it be fully understood
that the American Bar Association is in
entire sympathy and accord with the fact
that certain special problems and special
conditions affecting women lawyers can
rightfully be met and properly be solved
only by women kwyers themselves by
way of concerted action through organiza-
tion.
There may be some women lawyers who
have found that no difference or discrimi-
nation exists in so far as their practice
and experiences are concerned, but I have
had ample evidence of the fact that the
majority of women lawyers throughout
the United States have not been so fortu-
nate. I have records of cases of lawyers
in good standing who have expressed them-
selves with absolute frankness as preju-
diced against the woman lawyer applying
to them for positions in their offices.
I have the record of a case of a woman
lawyer who, after being permitted to take
certain examinations, which she passed
most creditably in qualifying for a posi-
tion in one of the bureaus of the Federal
Go(e'irnment,-mind you I say, after she
so quailied,-was politely, though firmly,
i n. - I., h ri- I , ain-- 0.-ln Irflih i-
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informed that it was not CUSTOMARY to
e:aploy women for such positions, even
though she was eminently qualified there-
'for. And because it was not CUSTOMARY
to employ women for such positions they
proposed to dismiss her qualification with-
out further consideration! . . . It seems
that certain male members of the Bar-in
New York City, discussing women lawyers
among themselves. have smugly agreed
that women lawyers had best go back to
the home and not crowd out the men in
the legal profession.
This may be absurd or amusing to
some of us who are established and suc-
cessful,, if we didn't stop to think of that
young woman lawyer, crestfallen, disil-
lusioned, asking herself whether the years
of preparation, of study and of sacrifice
in orderto become a lawyer were not wast-
ed years, questioning the sincerity of those
who had instilled in her the obligation to
cherish the ideals of the profession she
had chosen, and wondering, as she is told
to go back to the home, if she has not
been duped . . I think we can agree that
it is not funny, and I think we do agree
that we must do something about it; for
if we do not, it .will be only a question of
time when yP. ung women will shun the
study of law, thereby gradually depleting
the ranks of 'omen lawyers, ultimately,
to extinction.
The National Association of Women
Lawyers is meeting this issue squarely.
Asidka from other means, the most effective
meth6d is to employ the machinery of our
own oiganization. and a little influence,
for securing employment for women law-
yers. This we ale doing, and shall con-
tinue to do with greater efficiency Is our
membiership incretades-and it is increas-
ing steadily at1 surely, not only because](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/wolj18&div=14&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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The Need for and the Purpose of the National Association of Women Lawyers
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