Rebels at the Bar
In Rebels at the Bar (New York University Press), I recount the life stories of a small group of nineteenth century women who were among the first female attorneys in the United States. Beginning in the late 1860s, these determined rebels pursued the radical ambition of entering the then all-male profession of law. They were motivated by a love of learning. They believed in fair play and equal opportunity. They desired recognition as professionals and the ability to earn a good living.
Through a biographical approach, I present the common struggles of eight women first to train and to qualify as attorneys, then to practice their hard-won professional privilege. Their story is one of nerve, frustration, and courage. This first generation practiced civil and criminal law, solo and in partnership. The women wrote extensively and lobbied on the major issues of the day, but the professional opportunities open to them had limits. They never had the opportunity to wear the black robes of a judge. They were refused entry into the lucrative practices of corporate and railroad law. Although male lawyers filled legislatures and positions in foreign embassies, presidents refused to appoint these early women lawyers to diplomatic offices and the public refused to elect them to legislatures.
Rebels at the Bar expands our understanding of both women’s rights and the history of the legal profession in the nineteenth century. It focuses on the female renegades who trained in law and then, like men, fought considerable odds to create successful professional lives.
What the Reviewers Have Said:
"Intriguing and enriching" - Publishers Weekly
"Stories Norgren so capably tells..." - Emily Bazelon, The Washington Post
"I read these stories...with awe and gratitude" - Linda Greenhouse
"An important addition to the scholarship concerning women's role in the history...of the legal profession....more than just a biography" - Law Library Journal
"Will make a good gift for...aspiring lawyers" - -Judicature
"Fascinating and informative" - Judith A. Baer, Law and Society Review
Through a biographical approach, I present the common struggles of eight women first to train and to qualify as attorneys, then to practice their hard-won professional privilege. Their story is one of nerve, frustration, and courage. This first generation practiced civil and criminal law, solo and in partnership. The women wrote extensively and lobbied on the major issues of the day, but the professional opportunities open to them had limits. They never had the opportunity to wear the black robes of a judge. They were refused entry into the lucrative practices of corporate and railroad law. Although male lawyers filled legislatures and positions in foreign embassies, presidents refused to appoint these early women lawyers to diplomatic offices and the public refused to elect them to legislatures.
Rebels at the Bar expands our understanding of both women’s rights and the history of the legal profession in the nineteenth century. It focuses on the female renegades who trained in law and then, like men, fought considerable odds to create successful professional lives.
What the Reviewers Have Said:
"Intriguing and enriching" - Publishers Weekly
"Stories Norgren so capably tells..." - Emily Bazelon, The Washington Post
"I read these stories...with awe and gratitude" - Linda Greenhouse
"An important addition to the scholarship concerning women's role in the history...of the legal profession....more than just a biography" - Law Library Journal
"Will make a good gift for...aspiring lawyers" - -Judicature
"Fascinating and informative" - Judith A. Baer, Law and Society Review
Click here to listen to the podcast of Jill Norgren discussing Rebels at the Bar with an interviewer from the American Bar Association.