Louise Rebecca Pinnell (March 31, 1877 – May 22, 1966) was the first female lawyer in Florida.
She was born on March 31, 1877, in
Cuba, Missouri
Cuba is a city in Crawford County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,356 at the 2010 census. Cuba is the largest city situated entirely in Crawford County.
History
Cuba was platted in 1857 when it was certain the railroad would be ...
, to Ethan Allan and Frances Collier Pinnell. Her father Ethan was an attorney who was admitted to the
Missouri Bar Association
The Missouri Bar is the official bar association for all Missouri lawyers and judges. Every licensed Missouri lawyer is automatically a member of The Missouri Bar. Every applicant for admission to the bar must meet a list of requirements set by ...
in 1873 and eventually became a probate judge. Pinnell received her early education in
Crawford County, Missouri
Crawford County is a County (United States), county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2010 United States Census, 2010 Census, the population was 24,696. Its county seat is Steelville, Missouri, Steelville. ...
, before attending Steelville College. During the 1890s, the entire family moved to Bronson,
Levy County, Florida
Levy County is a county located on the Gulf coast and in the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,915. Its county seat is Bronson.
History
Levy County was created in 1845, after the Semino ...
.
Pinnell was an
autodidact
Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) or self-education (also self-learning and self-teaching) is education without the guidance of masters (such as teachers and professors) or institutions (such as schools). Generally, autodidacts are individua ...
, as there were no law schools in Florida before 1900. She thus received her legal tutelage from her father, and five months after completing her oral examination, became the first female to be admitted to the
Florida State Bar in October 1898. Pinnell initially practiced law with her father before joining the law practice of Major St. Clair-Abrams, Esq. in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
, who specialized in railroad litigation. In 1920, Pinnell began working as an attorney for the Florida East Coast Railway Company in
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine ( ; es, San Agustín ) is a city in the Southeastern United States and the county seat of St. Johns County on the Atlantic coast of northeastern Florida. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, it is the oldest continuously inhabit ...
.
She remained at the company for approximately twenty-five years.
Pinnell died on May 22, 1966, in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
.
See also
*
List of first women lawyers and judges in Florida
This is a list of the first women lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Florida. It includes the year in which the women were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are women who achieved other distinctions such becoming the first in their st ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinnell, Louise
Florida lawyers
20th-century American women lawyers
20th-century American lawyers
1877 births
1966 deaths
19th-century American women lawyers
19th-century American lawyers