Dear WILP members,

Happy Women’s History Month! In these uncertain times, it is comforting to know women are still celebrated, encouraged, and empowered by those who support us. Women have made significant contributions to society, whether those contributions were in the courtroom, the classroom, or the family room. The first woman in America admitted to law school – Lemma Barkaloo – studied right here in St. Louis and was the first woman admitted to the Missouri bar. In her 2014 book Redemption Songs: Suing for Freedom Before Dred Scott, Lea VanderVelde observed that most St. Louis freedom suits were initiated by women, who aimed to keep their families together. In her 1915 crusade to get women in the Missouri judiciary, St. Louis lawyer Adelaide O’Brien – one half of the only women law partnership practicing in the west at that time – quipped, “[T]here is nothing in the statutes requiring that a Supreme Court Judge be a ‘legal male voter.’ But no woman has presumed to take advantage of that oversight as yet.” In 1988, the Honorable Ann Covington was the first female judge appointed to Supreme Court of Missouri, which now maintains a female majority. Barely 2 months ago, St. Louis County swore in its first female Prosecuting Attorney, Melissa Price Smith. The battle for women to be in the courtroom has been fought in the U.S. for hundreds of years. 

The Supreme Court of the United States, in finding that barring women from the practice of law was not unconstitutional, wrote, “The natural and proper timidity and delicacy which belongs to the female sex evidently unfits it for many of the occupations of civil life.” Bradwell v. People of State of Illinois, 83 U.S. 130, 141 (1872). I personally feel pretty sorry for anyone who says that to me, but those women maintained their composure and persisted in spite of being called naturally “unfit” for the practice of law; the policy of barring women from the courtroom wasn’t officially prohibited for about another century. In the United States, women now comprise 56% of law school students and 41% of lawyers, compared to 10% and 9%, respectively, 50 years ago. We continually face adversity and work tirelessly to be where we are today while still working toward a better world for the next generation of women.  

The National Women’s History Alliance selects and publishes the yearly theme for each Women's History Month. The 2025 theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” One of the best things we can do right now is inspire. Mentor the younger women in your life. Provide grace, understanding, and empathy to everyone. Take as much pro bono work as you can handle. Volunteer as much as your schedule allows. Be the woman you wish you had around to look up to or emulate the one who made you who you are today. Because you are amazing. You are tremendous, resilient, brave, indefatigable, relentless, iconic, adept, dynamic, accomplished, creative, and if no one has told you yet: I’m proud of you. I’m inspired by the women who came before me and humbled by the women walking the path behind me. I am consistently in awe of Missouri women who have always fought for justice, be they the trailblazers above, the women down the hall from me, the bright and optimistic law students I meet, or those volunteering at pro bono legal clinics alongside me. I could not be more proud of practicing alongside them. 

So now that I’ve sufficiently soapboxed to everyone who made it this far, we are starting the month with a suit/professional clothing drive, taking donations of professional clothing (for any gender) all month long (see link for drop off locations). We also have a free CLE on Thursday, March 6, and our previously sold-out Galentine’s Day joint event with the Women Lawyer’s Association has been rescheduled for March 19 with a few spots left for attendance. Many thanks to all the wonderful women of WILP. I hope as I serve out the last couple months of my term as Chair I have perpetuated feelings of hope, strength, and joy and maybe even inspired a few people myself.  

With love and gratitude,

Katie Doherty, WILP Chair