Winter 2008 ADVOCATEAbridged Lewis & Clark Law School The Living History of Women in the Law The following remarks were drawn school and to positions that prepare movement, and they were affected by the from a speech given at the U.S. District lawyers politically and professionally for social turmoil of the peace movement and Court of Oregon Historical Society’s the bench.” In other words, the number the civil rights movement. They, and many Annual Dinner in Portland on October of women judges was dependent on the of the young men who came out of the law pool of women lawyers to draw from. With schools in that period, were idealistic about 30 by Betty Roberts ’66, winner of the the time it takes to progress from gradua- the kind of law they wanted to practice. 2006 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers tion to becoming a candidate for judge— Unfortunately, the men got the jobs of Achievement Award. Roberts served something like 20 years, according to the in the law firms and most women did not. as Oregon’s first female appellate judge. report—I concluded I would not likely The best example that can be given is the see many women judges in my lifetime. experience of U.S. Supreme Court Justice When I graduated from law school in I held onto hope, however. The per- Sandra Day O’Connor, who graduated 1966, there were two women in my class centage of women law students grew to third in her class at Stanford Law School of about 45. Women constituted 4 percent 20 percent . 30 percent . and kept in two years instead of the normal three. of law school students. By the time I was increasing while I moved from the Court When she applied for a job with a Califor- appointed to the Oregon Court of Appeals of Appeals to the Oregon Supreme Court. nia law firm, she was told there was no job in 1977, that percentage had jumped to I concluded there were two reasons why for a woman attorney as the firm’s clients an amazing 15 percent. Still, there were so many women were choosing the legal didn’t want to work with a woman lawyer. only five women trial judges in Oregon. profession. One: Women were not being Perhaps, she was told, she could be a legal In 1977 there was no woman on the encouraged to take math and science secretary. U.S. Supreme Court, and there never Betty Roberts ’66 courses–in fact, they were overtly discour- As you may know, she started her had been. Only 9 of the 525 active judges aged. This closed off certain fields, but not own law practice instead. She also had in the federal court system were women. numbers of women in law school were law. Two: The women’s movement in the two children, served in the Arizona state Only 10 of the 341 state supreme court increasing rapidly. Yet, as I worked with 1970s that saw the great public discussions senate, and was encouraged to run for gov- justices were women. Fewer than 5 percent these young women, I wondered how long on decriminalizing abortion, the ratifica- ernor. Instead, she accepted an appoint- of all intermediate court of appeals judges it would take for them to become judges. tion of the Equal Rights Amendment, and ment to the Arizona Court of Appeals, were women. The outlook was not good. I read from a the proliferation of laws that prohibited where President Reagan found her. When I first went on the Oregon Court 1978 publication of the National Center discrimination on a gender basis told Many, many women of Sandra Day of Appeals there were few women clerks, for State Courts that said, “The token role women that the legal profession was where O’Connor’s era—and many since—have but each year more and more women of women in the courts stems directly from they could make a difference. Many of applied and were hired. I realized that the the restricted access of women to law these women were active in the women’s Continued on page 4. and alumni invariably and inevitably say law student to be mentored by a successful the same thing: Libby makes it work. That’s attorney and learn that the mentor also Mentoring: program director Elizabeth “Libby” Davis. experienced doubt, anxiety, and apprehen- Davis appreciates the compliments but sion in law school. Relationships broaden is quick to turn them around. “Students perspectives for all participants.” The Best of BothWorlds and mentors alike have incredible demands on their time,” she notes. “They get out of Adina Flynn’96 by Jim Enright the program what they put in. Most of Alumni Board It’s 10 a.m. and law students are gathering students with experienced attorneys and them give much more than time—they of Directors and outside the Office of Career Services, jurists who are Law School alumni and share a lot of who they are and what mat- Scholarship Com- primed with questions: How do I balance friends. Mentors provide first-year students ters to them. They make the program suc- mittee, 2006-07 family, studies, and my job? Which spe- with practical advice and survival skills for cessful and enrich the entire legal cialty is right for me? What’s involved in navigating the demands of law school and community.” Adina Flynn has a lawyer’s day-to-day work? What public developing into ethical, responsible attor- That success begins with the matching a deep-rooted service opportunities are available? neys. Upper-division students deepen their process. Early in the fall semester, Davis appreciation for Finals—will I survive them? understanding of the dynamics of the law carefully assesses what students say they are the power of The questions hint at the range of and the legal community, and start making looking for before pairing them with a prac- extended con- services the office provides. But today is the transition from law school to career. ticing attorney or judge. nections. The great-granddaughter of one of Wednesday, so what students really want to In 2006-07 the Office of Career Serv- The pairings illustrate the range of op- the state’s first wheat farmers, she inherited know is this: cupcakes, cookies, or brownies? ices shepherded 200 pairs of students and portunities available to graduates and the a strong sense of place and ethic of service. That’s because every Wednesday is mentors. Participation is voluntary, but impact the Law School has on Portland So being a mentor has never really been Treat Day, spiced with baked goods compli- Davis tells students, “It can be one of the and the region. Young alumni welcome the optional for her. It comes with the territory. ments of the office staff. “It started simply best things you do at law school.” The fol- opportunity to stay connected and to invest And besides, Libby asked. “You can’t as a way to get students’ attention and now lowing stories illustrate her point. part of their time, energy, and hard-won say no to Libby,” Flynn says. “She helps you it has taken on a life of its own,” laughs knowledge in the upcoming generation of understand—gently—that, as an alum, Libby Davis ’93, assistant dean for career Elizabeth attorneys. More seasoned lawyers and ju- being a mentor is part of your give-back.” services and alumni relations. “We’re all A. Davis ’93 rists often find the experience keeps them Flynn was eager to give back. She just frustrated bakers at heart.” Assistant Dean energized in their work, while the enthusi- benefited greatly from the mentoring she Students may come for the cupcakes for Career Serv- asm and dedication of students remind received as a law student, and from the but they come back for the career guidance ices and Alumni them why they went to law school in the encouragement of friends and colleagues and counseling. They value and thrive on Relations first place. as she was establishing her financial plan- the person-to-person expertise, support, “The mentoring program fits very well ning practice. and encouragement Davis and her col- Talking about with who we are as a school,” says Davis. “You can’t achieve success and happi- leagues provide. the mentoring “The culture here values relationships ness on your own. Law school students Those qualities are particular hall- program, Law and seeks to be mutually supportive. It’s marks of the mentor program, which pairs School students incredibly powerful and reassuring for a Continued on page 2. Lewis & Clark Law School 10015 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd. NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Portland, Oregon 97219 PAID ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 438 Letter From the Dean Lisa LeSage received an Oregon State on the impact of global warming, securing decision in KSR v. Teleflex, the most Bar President’s Public Services Award this damages for the abuse or loss of pets, dog significant nonobviousness decision since year. She was recognized for her hard work fighting, and factory farms. 1966. Nationally prominent academics in and dedication as chair of the Oregon Law In cooperation with the Federal Judicial the fields of patent law, psychology, and Foundation Board. Center, the Law Schol hosted 50 federal economics, as well as research and develop- Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra judges September 19 to 21 for a seminar ment managers, participated in the program. Club, recently identified the 10 “coolest on key federal environmental and natural On October 5 and 6, the Law School schools,” based on what colleges and stu- resources laws.