Alexandra Mora Teaches CLE on Women in the Profession

Back by popular demand, Alexandra Mora  once again presented her one-hour CLE course that qualifies for professionalism called “She Who Must Be Obeyed: A Review of Women Lawyers and Judges in Literature and History and Its Effects on Professionalism.”

It was initially created by her last year, and she was asked to present it again in May of 2019 as a fundraiser for the New Orleans Citizens Diplomacy Council.

The CLE title comes from a phrase used by Rumpole of the Bailey when referring to his overbearing wife. The title to the CLE was a tongue-in-cheek nod to how women have been portrayed in literature, from wife of barrister to lawyers in their own right.

The CLE explores how women lawyers have been viewed and treated in fiction and in real life, and how our ideas of professionalism have changed accordingly. As an example, it used to be acceptable to have conferences and luncheons in all male clubs, thereby excluding women lawyers.

The CLE discusses early references to women lawyers (Portia) and early women lawyers on the frontier of the US. The woman pictured here is Jane Bolin, thought to be the first African-American female to be appointed as a judge in the United States. A reception for international visitors who were studying the U.S. Judicial System and how it protects women and children followed the CLE, which was held in a historic uptown home.