Women in the Law

A Trailblazing Journey: From Sarah Killgore Wertman to Today

In their article, A Trailblazing Journey: From Sarah Killgore Wertman to Today, Kristina Bilowus and Nicole M. Smithson discuss the trailblazers who have made the legal field more accessible to and accepting of female attorneys. The article begins with a discussion of Sarah Killgore Wertman, the first woman admitted to practice law in Michigan and goes on to discuss the role of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) in advancing the interests of female attorneys in Michigan. The article also identifies other major trailblazers such as former WLMA president Judge Lila Neuenfelt, who was the first woman to stand for election under her maiden name and was the first woman elected to the circuit court bench in Michigan. The article further recognizes Grace Costavoas Murphy, the first African-American woman admitted to the Michigan bar, and Regene Cohane, who served as president for the WLAM and worked tirelessly in her community to improve women’s rights. In honor of these trailblazing women, the attorneys at Kathryn Wayne-Spindler and Associates work hard to promote gender equality in the legal field. For more information, see A Trailblazing Journey: From Sarah Killgore Wertman to Today.

We help clients throughout Southeastern Michigan, including Genessee, Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, as well as Mid-Michigan in Clare, Gladwin, Ogemaw, and Roscommon Counties. Our experienced attorneys have counseled such clients in Milford; Hartland; Highland; White Lake; Commerce; Walled Lake; Waterford; West Bloomfield; South Lyon; New Hudson; Brighton; Howell; Ann Arbor; Holly; Fenton; Flint; Linden; Clarkston; Houghton Lake; Higgins Lake; Roscommon and many more local communities.