AN AUSTRALIAN PORTIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 89, 11 October 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN AUSTRALIAN PORTIA.

To Miss Ida Emily Evans belongs the , aniquo distinction of being tbe first lady member of the Australian legal profession, a position attained by the display of exceptional ability during a lengthened course of preliminary study. Miss Evans is English by birth, being a native of Woodford, near London, and arrived in Sydney while a mere girl. There she attended the Sydney High School, one •>f the best educational institutions in the Commonwealth. Five months ' later-, she passed the Junior Examination, and fifteen months afterwards was successful h, *.he matriculation test, and subsequently passed tbn Sei-i'"- , Examination. Being too young to enter Sydney University, she had to wait a year. Her succpss after admission was remarkable. In 1895 she took the B.A. degree', and in 1898 graduated through 'the last course. This year at the Sydney University commemoration she received the degree of Bachelor of Laws amid the applause of the professors and students, who were proud of her success. Her choice of the logal profession, despite the fact that the law in New South Wales and the sister States does not permit ladies to practise, is explained hy tho fact that- she ■ belongs •to a. family of lawyers," arid entertains a conviction that her success will prove the means of overthrowing the? barriers, which at present exclude members of her sex from the Australian Bar. But there is nothing unfeniinine about Miss Evans, who sensibly remarks that woman is not man's equal in all things, and that her one high sphere is that of ■wife and mother ; consequently, she does nor hold with those who think 'that because a woman lakes up a profession she must ape the man. " A woman should should be essentially a. woman first." Miss Evans, during her long cours6 of study, did not neglect to take plenty of outdoor exercise, her principal occupations being gardening, golfing, and horseriding. She places great stress on the importance of exercise and fresh air. "There are some women — some society women — who do not think ' it necessary to take exercise. But they would be a great deal better for it if they did. Professional women know the value of it, and society women should recognise it also," she says. With regard to removing the prohibition of lady lawyers, nothing can be done until tho Federal Judiciary Bill is introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament, when.it will be sought to add a clause which will enable ladies, like Miss Evans, gaining the degree of LL.B., to. practise at the Australian Bar. The clause will have the support of the Australian universities and the leading members of the legal professirfn in the Conir monwealth. — J.P., in the Ladies' Field.