First Law Schools to Admit Women

Washington University in St. Louis

Sep 1, 1869

First women admitted to law school: Lemma Barkaloo and Phoebe Wilson Couzins. Washington University is the Alma mater to Judge Rebecca R. Steenrod, where she was admitted in 1979.

Union College of Law in Chicago

Sep 1, 1870

Ada H. Kepley was the first woman to graduate law school from the Union College of Law in Chicago (which is now Northwestern University).

University of Michigan

Sep 1, 1872

Admits women to their law school

Boston University

Sep 1, 1872

Admits women to their law school

Hastings Law School

Sep 1, 1878

Admits women to their law school

Buffalo Law School

Sep 1, 1887

Admits women to their law school

New York University

Sep 1, 1888

Admits women to attend law classes as part of its Graduate School of Arts and Science

Washington College of Law (District of Columbia)

Sep 1, 1896

First law school for women established

Portia Law School

Sep 1, 1908

All female student body

Fordham University School of Law

Sep 1, 1918

Admits women to their law school

Yale University School of Law

Sep 1, 1918

Admits women to their law school

Columbia University School of Law

Sep 1, 1919

Admits women to their law school

Northeastern University School of Law

Sep 1, 1923

Admits women to their law school

Harvard University School of Law

Sep 1, 1950

Admits women to their law school