Throughout its 135-year history, many New York Law School alumni have played important roles in advancing women’s rights while also distinguishing themselves across the legal profession and public service. Even before women graduated from the Law School, members of the NYLS community contributed to milestones that shaped women’s place in American civic life. One of the earliest examples is Bainbridge Colby, Class of 1892. A member of the New York State legislature for 18 years, Colby was appointed Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson. In that role, he signed the 1920 proclamation certifying the Nineteenth Amendment, formally granting women the right to vote and marking a transformative moment in American history.
Seventeen years later, Elizabeth Schenkel ’37 became the Law School’s first female graduate, helping to open the doors for generations of women who would follow. Her achievement marked the beginning of a profound shift in the institution’s history. Today, women comprise nearly 70% of the student body. Their continuing hard work and commitment to important issues reflect the legacy of earlier graduates, whose accomplishments expanded opportunities within the legal profession and beyond.
As part of Women’s History Month, New York Law School honors several alumnae and one faculty member whose contributions to the law and the legal community paved the way for the many women who followed in their footsteps, and whose work helped shape the law, advance equality, and inspire future generations of lawyers.
Just six years after graduating from New York Law School, Barbara Watson ’62 broke barriers in American diplomacy and public service when President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed her the first female United States Assistant Secretary of State in 1968. She was also the first Black American to serve in that role. Known for her leadership in international affairs, Watson continued her distinguished public service when President Jimmy Carter appointed her United States Ambassador to Malaysia in 1980.
Judge Judy Sheindlin ’65 built a career defined by both public service and cultural impact. She served as a New York City Family Court judge from 1982 to 1996, where she earned a reputation for fairness, candor, and strong courtroom management. She went on to become a household name as television’s “Judge Judy.” Her hit show, Judge Judy, premiered in 1996, regularly attracting millions of daily viewers over the show’s 25-year run, making her one of the most recognizable legal figures in popular culture. She continues to influence popular culture in her Emmy award-winning show Judy Justice, which began in 2021. Judge Sheindlin’s legacy has continued at New York Law School—both her daughter and granddaughter are also proud graduates. She also returned to inspire graduates as the keynote speaker for NYLS’s 130th Commencement and established the Judge Judy Sheindlin ’65 Honors Scholars Program, which partners with nonprofit Her Honor Mentoring, founded by Judge Sheindlin and her daughter, to create new opportunities for women to attend law school.
Sybil Shainwald ’76 devoted her career to advocating for women who suffered from harm caused by pharmaceutical products. She became a leading attorney for the “DES daughters,” women who experienced cancers and infertility due to their mothers’ use of the then-FDA-approved synthetic hormone diethylstilbestrol, known as “DES.” At a time when the legal profession remained largely male-dominated, Shainwald amplified hundreds of voices of DES daughters, bringing national attention to their cases and advancing accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. Throughout her career, her work helped shape broader advocacy within the women’s health movement.
Although not an alumna, Edith Fisch forged a lasting legacy at NYLS as a pioneering educator and scholar. When she joined the faculty in 1962, she became the first female law professor in New York State. A distinguished academic, Fisch was also the first person to ever earn all the degrees awarded by Columbia Law School (LL.B., LL.M., and J.S.D.). She later served as President of the New York Women’s Bar Association from 1970–1971. Fisch’s enduring impact on legal education and practice continues in part through her treatise, Fisch on New York Evidence, an essential reference for countless New York trial lawyers and judges.
Together, these individuals represent only a small part of New York Law School’s long tradition of leadership and service. Their achievements helped expand opportunities for women in law and public life, creating a legacy that continues to inspire today’s students and future alumnae.