By: Hon. Megan Goldish
In 2026, the United States will mark the 250th anniversary of its founding. But for women lawyers, the Semiquincentennial raises an important question: What does 250 years of American law mean for those who were excluded from the legal profession for much of that history?
From Myra Bradwell’s fight to practice law in Illinois to the growing number of women entering the profession today, women have helped reshape the legal system from which they were once excluded.
The nation’s 250th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate that progress while recognizing that the work of achieving true equality in the legal profession remains unfinished.
Read the full article in the WBAI Spring 2026 Newsletter on pages 33-35 to explore the history of women in the law and what the next 250 years may hold.