The New Women and the Old Establishment

Abstract

From a position of virtual exclusion in the 1960s women lawyers began to enter Wall Street law firms in the 1970s, increasing their numbers from 40 to over 600 in 1979. The reasons for this are analyzed in this article and include the impact of the woman's movement, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, law suits brought against several major Wall Street firms setting a precedent for the profession, the activity of law school personnel in the recruitment process, and the changing attitudes toward women's competence and equality. Women not only entered the large firms, this study shows, but mdicated interest and competence in specialties formerly reserved for men, such as corporate work and litigation. They also demonstrated long-term career commitment and ambi tion toward rismg in the promotion system.