10 Most Influential Women Lawyers and Scholars

Published in

Heritage Digest

14 min readMar 24, 2024

Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to the field of law, overcoming barriers and setting precedents. This article celebrates the top ten most influential women lawyers who have paved the way for equality and justice. Their remarkable achievements shaped legal landscapes and inspired generations to come.

Charlotte E. Ray (1850–1911)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020)
Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849–1934)
Belva Ann Lockwood (1830–1917)
Cornelia Sorabji (1866–1954)
Mary Robinson (1944-present)
Shirin Ebadi (1947-present)
Constance Baker Motley (1921–2005)
Arabella Mansfield (1846–1911)
Hina Jilani (1953-present)

1. Charlotte E. Ray (1850–1911)

Charlotte E. Ray was born in New York City on January 13, 1850. Her father, Reverend Charles Bennett Ray, was an important figure in the abolitionist movement and edited a newspaper called The Colored American. Charlotte’s mother, Charlotte Augusta Burroughs Ray, was instrumental in her upbringing, instilling values of education and activism. She was raised in a family that prioritized education. Charlotte and her siblings were encouraged to pursue higher learning, reflecting the progressive attitudes of her parents.

Ray’s educational journey was notable for its time, especially for an African-American woman. She attended the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in Washington, D.C., and graduated in 1869. Recognizing the limited opportunities for black women in higher education, Ray’s enrollment and subsequent graduation were significant achievements. After completing her primary education, she became a teacher at Howard University’s Prep School. Demonstrating a strong commitment to furthering her education, she enrolled in Howard University School of Law under “C. E. Ray.” She graduated in 1872, becoming the first black woman to do so.

Charlotte E. Ray’s legal career was groundbreaking and inspirational. In 1872, she became the first black woman admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and the first woman admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Supreme Court. Despite her legal prowess, she faced significant racial and gender prejudice, which made sustaining her law practice challenging. Her practice focused on corporate law, but due to societal biases, Ray eventually returned to teaching. Her contributions to law and her role as a pioneer for women and African Americans in the legal profession are significant parts of her legacy, underscoring her importance as a trailblazer in American history. Charlotte E. Ray passed away on January 4, 1911, leaving a legacy as a pioneer in the legal profession.

2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020)

Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg, born on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, grew up in a Jewish family. Her father, Nathan Bader, was an immigrant from Ukraine, and her mother, Celia, was born in New York to Polish immigrants. Tragically, Ginsburg’s older sister died when Ruth was a baby, and her mother passed away just before she graduated from high school. Despite these hardships, Ginsburg excelled academically, guided by her mother’s emphasis on education. She attended Cornell University, where she met her husband, Martin D. Ginsburg.

Ginsburg faced gender discrimination early in her legal career but persevered to graduate at the top of her class from Columbia Law School. She transferred from Harvard Law School, where she was one of the few women in her class. Ginsburg’s early legal work included co-authoring a book on Swedish civil procedure and becoming a professor at Rutgers and Columbia Law Schools. She made significant contributions to legal academia, particularly in civil procedure, and was a trailblazer for women in the legal profession.

A key figure in the fight for gender equality and women’s rights, Ginsburg won multiple cases before the Supreme Court as a volunteer attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Her Supreme Court tenure, starting in 1993, was marked by her strong voice for liberal views of the law, and she penned influential majority opinions in landmark cases. Ginsburg passed away on September 18, 2020, leaving a profound legacy in American jurisprudence.

3. Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849–1934)

Clara Shortridge Foltz was born Clarissa Shortridge on July 16, 1849, in Milton, Indiana. Her father, Elias Willetts Shortridge, was a lawyer and preacher, and her mother was Talitha Shortridge. The family moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, before the Civil War, where Foltz attended a co-educational school, which was uncommon then. At age 15, Foltz eloped with farmer and Civil War veteran Jeremiah D. Foltz, and they started a family. The couple moved several times, eventually settling in San Jose, California, in 1872. Foltz contributed articles to various publications during these times.

Foltz’s legal career began after her husband abandoned her and their five children. She studied law in a local judge’s office, supported by local suffragette Sarah Knox-Goodrich. Foltz also supported herself through public lectures on suffrage, starting in 1877. She challenged the legal system, which only permitted white males to join the bar, by authoring the “Woman Lawyer Bill.” This bill replaced “white male” with “person” in the law, allowing her to take the bar exam and become the first female lawyer on the West Coast and the first woman admitted to the California bar in September 1878.

Foltz’s later career was marked by numerous “firsts.” She was the first female clerk for the State Assembly’s Judiciary Committee in 1880 and the first woman appointed to the State Board of Corrections. In 1910, she became the first female deputy district attorney in the United States. Foltz also led the women’s suffrage movement, authoring the Women’s Vote Amendment for California in 1911. She founded and published the San Diego Daily Bee and New American Woman Magazine. Despite her many achievements, Foltz encountered financial difficulties while fighting for admission to Hastings College of the Law. This led her to return to her legal career instead of pursuing law school. Foltz died of heart failure at age 85 on September 2, 1934, in Los Angeles. Her legacy includes the public defender concept, now a staple of the U.S. legal system.

4. Belva Ann Lockwood (1830–1917)

Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood was born in Royalton, New York, on October 24, 1830. Her father, Lewis Johnson Bennett, was a farmer, and her mother, Hannah Green, was a homemaker. Raised in a time when educational opportunities for women were limited, Lockwood still pursued learning zealously. By age 14, she was already teaching at the local elementary school. Her early life was marked by a determination to overcome gender barriers in education and employment.

Lockwood’s pursuit of education led her to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and later to Genesee College in Lima, New York. Despite societal norms discouraging women from seeking higher education, Lockwood was driven to better herself academically to support herself and her daughter after becoming a widow. During her time at Genesee College, she developed an interest in law. However, she faced significant hurdles in pursuing legal studies, as law schools did not admit women then.

Lockwood’s most notable contribution to law and gender equality came in her struggle to become one of the first female lawyers in the United States. After being refused admission to law school because of her gender, she studied law privately and later successfully lobbied Congress to pass a law allowing women to practice in any federal court. In 1879, she became the first woman permitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court. Lockwood also ran for president in 1884 and 1888, becoming the first woman to appear on official ballots. She used her legal career to advocate for women’s rights, including the fight for equal pay and suffrage. Lockwood’s perseverance and achievements paved the way for future generations of women in law and politics. She passed away on May 19, 1917, leaving a legacy of breaking barriers and advocating for gender equality.

5. Cornelia Sorabji (1866–1954)

Cornelia Sorabji was born on November 15, 1866, in Nashik, in the Bombay Presidency, British India, to Reverend Sorabji Karsedji and Francina Ford. Her father, a Christian missionary and former Zoroastrian, and her mother, an adoptee of a British couple, were instrumental in her early education. Sorabji’s upbringing in a progressive and academic household laid the foundation for her trailblazing career in law. Inspired by her mother, who established several girls’ schools, Sorabji was driven to advance the cause of education and rights for women.

Sorabji was a brilliant student, becoming the first female graduate from Bombay University and, later, the first woman to study law at Oxford University. Despite her academic excellence, she faced gender discrimination, initially being denied a scholarship for further studies in England and later facing obstacles in her legal career in India. Determined to pursue law, she successfully appealed to Ulysses S. Grant for her diploma and returned to India as a qualified lawyer.

Cornelia Sorabji’s major achievements lie in her pioneering role in the Indian legal system and her advocacy for purdahnashins — secluded women with legal issues inaccessible to them due to gender restrictions. She became India’s first female advocate in 1899, although she could not officially practice until 1923 due to legal restrictions on women. Sorabji’s work transcended her legal practice; she was a social reformer who cautiously approached the imposition of Western perspectives on Indian women’s issues. She believed in gradual reform, prioritizing education over immediate political change. Sorabji’s legacy as a legal pioneer and social reformer remained significant until her death on July 6, 1954.

6. Mary Robinson (1944-present)

Mary Therese Winifred Robinson, born on May 21, 1944, in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, was raised in a family deeply involved in Ireland's diverse political strands. Her parents and medical doctors provided a nurturing environment that instilled in her a sense of justice and civic responsibility. Her family’s varied religious and political backgrounds influenced her progressive views and commitment to social justice.

Educated at Mount Anville Secondary School in Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, where she was a scholar, Robinson pursued law and became an advocate for social change. She challenged many of Ireland’s conservative norms, advocating for women’s rights and legal reforms. Robinson’s academic excellence at Trinity and later at Harvard Law School laid a solid foundation for her groundbreaking legal career. Despite the challenges of being one of the few women in her field at the time, she excelled and became a respected figure in Irish law.

Robinson’s achievements are significant. She was the first woman President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and played a crucial role in modernizing Irish society. As a senator and lawyer, she was instrumental in decriminalizing homosexuality, legalizing contraception and divorce, enabling women to sit on juries, and securing the right to legal aid in civil cases in Ireland. Post-presidency, she championed global human rights issues as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her work has indelibly impacted Irish society and international human rights law. Mary Robinson remains active in global civil rights campaigning and environmental advocacy.

7. Shirin Ebadi (1947-present)

Shirin Ebadi, born on June 21, 1947, in Hamadan, Iran, grew up in an educated Persian family. Her father, Mohammad Ali Ebadi, was a notable legal professional, serving as the city’s chief notary public and a commercial law professor. Her mother, Minu Yamini, was a homemaker, providing a stable and nurturing environment for Shirin’s early years. The family’s move to Tehran during her infancy marked the beginning of a life deeply intertwined with law and justice.

Educated at the University of Tehran, Ebadi was part of Iran's pioneering wave of female legal professionals. She began her career with a remarkable ascent, becoming one of the country’s first female judges and, eventually, the first female president of the Tehran city court. However, the Iranian Revolution 1979 dramatically altered her career path, leading to her dismissal from the judiciary and barring her from practicing law until 1993. During this period, Ebadi utilized her time to write and contribute to Iranian periodicals, maintaining her engagement with legal and social issues.

Ebadi’s major achievements are both numerous and influential. In 2003, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her pioneering efforts in promoting democracy and human rights, particularly focusing on women’s, children’s, and refugee rights. This recognition made her not only the first Iranian but also the first Muslim woman to receive the award. As a lawyer, she has been known for her pro bono work, representing dissidents and fighting for justice in high-profile cases, including defending the families of political intellectuals and victims of state violence. Her work has brought significant international attention to human rights issues in Iran. Since 2009, Ebadi has lived in exile in London, continuing her advocacy and writing to promote human rights globally.

8. Constance Baker Motley (1921–2005)

Constance Baker Motley, an influential American law and politics figure, was born on September 14, 1921, in New Haven, Connecticut. The daughter of Rachel Huggins and McCullough Alva Baker, Caribbean immigrants from Nevis, she grew up in a large family as the ninth of twelve children. Her mother, a community activist, and her father, a chef for Yale University societies, provided a nurturing environment that spurred her early interest in civil rights. Motley’s childhood was marked by her parents’ dedication to education and activism, which significantly influenced her future path.

Motley’s educational journey was pivotal in shaping her legal career. A bright student, she became president of the New Haven Negro Youth Council and secretary of the New Haven Adult Community Council during high school. After graduating with honors in 1939, Motley’s aspirations to become a lawyer were challenged by financial constraints. However, her eloquence and commitment to community service impressed businessman Clarence W. Blakeslee, who sponsored her education. She attended Fisk University and then New York University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics. Her law degree from Columbia Law School was a stepping stone to working with Thurgood Marshall and participating in groundbreaking civil rights cases.

Motley’s legal career was a series of historic milestones. As the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s first female attorney, she played a crucial role in landmark civil rights cases, including drafting the original complaint in Brown v. Board of Education. Her prowess in the courtroom made her the first African-American woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. Motley’s successful representation of civil rights figures and her victories in nine out of ten Supreme Court cases cemented her status as a legal powerhouse. Her work extended beyond the courtroom into politics, where she became the first woman to hold the office of Manhattan Borough President, advocating for underserved areas and urban renewal. Her appointment as the first African-American woman in the federal judiciary further demonstrated her trailblazing spirit and commitment to justice.-

9. Arabella Mansfield (1846–1911)

Arabella Mansfield, born Belle Aurelia Babb on May 23, 1846, in Benton Township, Iowa, grew up in a period marked by change and opportunity. Her early life was affected by her father’s death in a mining accident in 1852, leading her mother to move the family to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for better educational opportunities. There, Arabella and her brother, Washington Irving Babb, named after the famous New York author, attended local schools. Arabella’s upbringing, marked by these early upheavals and her mother’s resilience, would shape her future endeavors.

In 1862, Mansfield enrolled at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, where she excelled academically and graduated as valedictorian. The Civil War era opened doors for women in higher education and teaching, as many men were away fighting. After a brief stint teaching at the Des Moines Conference Seminary, Arabella returned to Mount Pleasant to marry John Melvin Mansfield, a professor who supported her legal ambitions. She studied law through an apprenticeship with her brother, overcoming societal norms and legal barriers that restricted women’s participation in the legal profession.

Arabella Mansfield’s most significant achievement was becoming the first female lawyer in the United States in 1869, after successfully challenging an Iowa state law restricting the bar exam to males. Despite this groundbreaking achievement, she chose a career in education and activism over practicing law. She taught at Iowa Wesleyan College and DePauw University and served as a dean. Her work in women’s suffrage, including chairing the Iowa Women’s Suffrage Convention in 1870 and working with Susan B. Anthony, marked her as a key figure in the fight for women’s rights. Mansfield passed away in 1911, before the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, but her legacy continues to inspire and influence the legal profession and women’s rights activism.

10. Hina Jilani (1953-present)

Hina Jilani, born on December 19, 1953, in Pakistan, has been a prominent figure advocating human rights and legal reform in her country. Raised when Pakistan was experiencing significant political upheaval, including martial law, Jilani’s upbringing was amidst a backdrop of social and political change. This environment influenced her career choice and dedication to human rights and legal advocacy.

Jilani embarked on her legal career in 1979, a period marked by martial law in Pakistan, which undoubtedly presented significant challenges and shaped her focus on human rights. She co-founded Pakistan’s first all-female law firm, AGHS Legal Aid Cell (ALAC), with her sister Asma Jahangir in 1980, initially focusing on providing women legal aid. This step marked the beginning of her long and impactful journey in fighting for women’s rights and addressing discriminatory laws in Pakistan. In 1986, she established Pakistan’s first legal aid center, further expanding her influence and reach in providing legal assistance to those in need.

Jilani’s achievements extend beyond national boundaries, with significant contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international organizations. Her commitment to human rights has led her to face numerous threats, including arrests, death threats, and assassination attempts. Despite these dangers, Jilani continues her work with undeterred dedication. Her leadership in founding the Women’s Action Forum and the shelter Dastak, along with her involvement in various United Nations roles, underscores her relentless pursuit of justice and equality. As of 2019, her expertise was recognized globally, evidenced by her appointment to a UK foreign office panel to develop global legal frameworks for media freedom. Her resilience and commitment to human rights and legal reform inspire many in Pakistan and internationally.