Northwest Arkansas Times from Fayetteville, Arkansas • Page 9

Women-At-Law Busy In Fayetteville Northwest Arkamof TIMES, Jan. FAYETTEVILLE. ARKANSAS By JAM NOGGLE TIMES Staff Writer "I never really had a problem being the only woman lawyer in lown but the one disadvantage Is that you couldn't know a jury's reaction to a woman attorney in the courtroom," claimed Miss Suzanne Lighton, who was the only woman practicing law in Fayetteville from 1933 until 1967. Mrs. Ana Henry who practiced Jaw in 1971 and 1972 said that "the situation is changing in our society and women are being accepted for their ability." But she did admit that there are still a few persons around who resent women in the law profession and don't feel that women should be in a courtroom.

"Trial work is very demanding and generally you don't see a woman in this work, but this is because many women have a i obligations and don't have the time to handle the work that is involved. It depends on the individual person," added Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Henry retired from her law practice to more lime with her children, Paul 8, Kathy 7 and Mark 4 and to do legislative work for her husband Sen.

Morriss Henry. But she does plan to return to her practice in the future. In addition to her family obligations she is chairman of the Washington County Dcmo- a Central Committee, chairman of the Election Commission, president of the Washington County Medical Auxiliary and is on the Governor's Commission of the Status of Women. NO PROBLEMS Miss Esther White, practicing law since 1971 and Mrs. Betty Burke, practicing since 1970, claim that they have had no problems in their profession because they are women.

Miss White said, "Being a woman attorney is more of an advantage than disadvantage." Mrs. Frances Kudco, who recently passed her bar exam, studied law at Notre Dame in WORKING IN A LAW FIRM WITH HER HUSBAND Betty Burke said that her husband, Tom, has been very encouraging Knee she started her law prictice in 1970. England and at the University of Arkansas. She is the community's newest practicing woman lawyer. All of the women are graduates of the University or Arkansas.

Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Rudco, Miss White and Mrs. Henry all received their law degrees from the UA. When Miss Lighton passed the state bar exam a law degree was not required and she had i obtained much practical knowledge of law by working in the office of Chancery Judge Lee Seamster.

Miss Lighton first became interested in law and court proceedings when she worked as a reporter for the Fayetteville Daily Democrat (predessor to the TIMES) and covered the courthouse. Each afternoon lawyers would gather at the courthouse and tell stories about cases they handled. Miss Lighton became interested and learned to find her own answers to legal questions in Judge Seamster's law books. She eventually quit working for the paper and became a secretary for Judge for use of the books as her pay. SET UP PRACTICE As her interest grew she too the bar exam and set up he- own practice.

She admits, had to keep proving I could it and 1 probably worked a littlt more because I was a woman The other lawyers didn't trefl me like another man but the; recognized me as an equal who- it came to law cases." "The time I practiced was the time would have chosen," said Miss Lighten "There was personal warmth tc 1' the relationship with your client. We worked hard hu! there was a more relaxed air and people had time to visit. Law is now too much like big business," she added. Citing memorable experience: in her career, Miss Lighton recalled the excitement when the first client came to her office. She said, "The client walked in and I suddenly realized that I was going to have to tell him what to do." But the situation went smoothly as it was a problem of property settlement and she knew exactly what to do.

WEEK OFF A rather awkward situation was the first time a client asked her what the fee would be for a case she had handled. "I hesitantly said $75. The client, without hesitation, wrote out the check. I never saw so much money and was so elated I took a week vacation to Kansas city," Miss Lighton recalled. Since her retirement from law practice, Miss Lighton has been extremely active in community affairs.

She was the first Washington County Juvenile Court Referee and was instrumental in organizing tiie Juvenile Advisory Committee. She has also been an enthusiastic member of a number of city boards and committees. PROM LAW BOOKS TO STORY BOOKS Mrs. Ann Henry reads a story to her four-year-oH son, Mark. She retired from feer tew to devote more time to her family and community activities.

She does plan to return to Mf pMHOOt fll future date. TIMESphotos by Ken Good RECALLING HER DAYS OF LAW PRACTICE Mte Swxmne Lighton, the only woman lawyer in Fayetteville 1933 until 1967 describes how law practice has changed A RECENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE Mrs. Frances Rudco is the newest member to the ranks of Fay- etteviUe's women lawyers. RESEARCHING A LEGAL PROBLEM Miss Esther White, a practicing attorney since May of 1971, says that being a woman in the legal profession is.