First Female African American Lawyer1872 - 1879
Charlotte E. Ray
First Female African American Lawyer at Private Practice
Charlotte E. Ray was a trailblazing figure in American legal history as the first African American female lawyer in the United States and the first woman admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia. After graduating from Howard University School of Law in 1872, she established her own practice focusing on commercial law. Despite facing both racial and gender discrimination in the legal profession, Ray broke significant barriers and paved the way for future generations of Black women in law.
Notable Achievements
- First African American female lawyer in the United States
- First female admitted to the District of Columbia Bar
- First woman admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia
- One of the first women to establish her own law office in the United States
- Graduate of Howard University School of Law
- Pioneer for women's rights and racial equality in the legal profession
Expertise & Topics
Legal Pioneer
Women's Rights
Civil Rights
Howard University
Nineteenth Century
Historical Figure
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