Mary Florence Lathrop

Mary Florence Lathrop (1865–1951) was an American lawyer. She was the first woman to open a law practice in Denver, Colorado, and one of the first two female members of the American Bar Association. She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1987.

Early life and education Lathrop was born December 10, 1865, to a Philadelphia Quaker family and knew early on that she would not be getting married.

Career Lathrop was not only one of the first female members of the American Bar Association, but also the first female member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association. and was the first woman to join the Denver Bar Association. Her contributions included redrafting Colorado probate statues, aiding in the development of the Small Guardianship Law, and most famously argued in Clayton v. Hallett, a case which established the law of charitable bequests in Colorado.

Death and legacy Lathrop died on October 18, 1951, in Denver, Colorado. She not only helped to pave the way for female lawyers who followed in her steps, but received numerous awards. She spent her life helping students with their education and left the bulk of her estate to establish a student loan fund at the University of Denver. The Colorado Women's Bar Association (CWBA) began annually presenting an award named after her beginning in 1991 to an outstanding female attorney who has enriched the community through legal and civic activities.