"Vanessa applied, was accepted, and persevered, inspiring us all" -Liz R C

People celebrating Vanessa know, appreciate, and love her. What they may not be able to do, because they were not around in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, is understand the challenges she faced as she began the illustrious career we are celebrating now.

Women considering law school in 1969 were entering a profession that was only 2% female. I don’t know what advice Vanessa got, but my own great uncle, partner in a well-respected law firm, told me that girls should not be lawyers, and he persuaded my grandfather not to loan me money for law school. Gary Trudeau on a Doonesbury cartoon series captured what Vanessa faced. In one March strip, Joanie Caucus is completing her application for law school. She is asked whether she is male or female and, if female, “Why should we take a chance on you and train you to be a lawyer when you’ll probably just quit and get married anyway?” The only answer was “Arg!”

Vanessa applied, was accepted, and persevered, inspiring us all. Thank you Vanessa!

Liz R C