Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Justice O'Connor

I got to attend a Q & A session at the law school today with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. She is a really funny woman and tells great stories, and I thought I'd share this one with you, not because it's funny, but because it's so unbelievable:
She went to Stanford Law School in the early 1950's and graduated near the top of her class. At that time, all of the big city law firms would put flyers up in the law school hallways telling students to call for an interview. She said she called all of the firms but couldn't get a single interview. Finally, she talked to one of her classmates whose dad was a partner at a big L.A. law firm (I've heard it was Gibson Dunn, but she didn't name it while she told us the story). The classmate got her dad to interview Justice O'Connor. During the interview, he praised her resume, but then said "Ms. Day, our firm has never hired a woman and I don't see that changing any time soon. Our clients just wouldn't stand for it." He continued, "but how fast can you type?" She replied she typed so-so. To this, he answered, "Well, if you type well enough, I might be able to get you a position as a legal secretary." She declined the offer. She graduated at the top of her class at Stanford and she couldn't get a job! She ended up working for the San Mateo County D.A. WITHOUT PAY for a few months until the D.A. became judge and her supervisor was made D.A., which opened up a slot for her to actually get money. Wow, times have changed.

3 comments:

Phyllis said...

We have come a long way. In 1964 when my older sister graduated from high school. The Pres. scholarship at BYU were only offered to men. Women could not even aply.

Kathy said...

Wow! Oh how times have changed, and aren't we all happy :)

Phyllis said...

You are so right, Kathy.