On Friday, April 28, the Alumni Center hosted members of the WLA for a plaque dedication ceremony in Austin Hall. Alumnae Judith Hope, HLS ’64, dedicated a plaque in Austin to recognize the challenges that women faced in the early years of coeducation at HLS. She was one of 15 women in her class at HLS, later became partner at Paul Hastings, and was the first woman to serve on the Harvard Corporation. The ceremony included a lovely toast from Dean Minow, a ribbon-cutting (in which some lucky WLA members got to participate!), champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other yummy treats.
For the WLA women who are currently studying for finals, this was a great study break and a reminder of what the women who came before us had to sacrifice in order for us to be here today. It was awe-inspiring to hear that the Class of 1964 only had fifteen women, standing in stark contrast to the Class of 2019, which is the first majority-female class (51%–next year, we’re going for more!). Judith explained that there was no leader; the women linked arms, and walked together. This reminded us of one of outgoing WLA President Natalie Vernon’s favorite sayings: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
One of Judith’s classmates told us that two years after graduating from HLS, she interviewed at a firm that had not only never hired a female attorney before, but had never even interviewed one! She got the job, although the first thing they did was give her a “modesty shield” so that men couldn’t see her legs below her desk. We’ve come a long way, but it’s clear to the women of the WLA that we’ve got a lot farther to go until we achieve gender equity, both in the legal industry and in society writ large.
Thank you, Judith and the other fourteen brave women of the Class of 1964! You paved the way for us, and we’ll continue to pave the way for those who are yet to come.
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