Women in Law: A Look Back Kathy Evans Borchardt

Kathy Evans Borchardt was interested in women's rights long before she went to law school. She gave speeches supporting the Equal Rights Amendment, protested the local Jaycee chapter's exclusion of women from membership, and became active in Women for Equality, a group which eventually became a chapter of the National Organization for Women. Attending law school at the University of Tulsa College of Law only enhanced her commitment to equal rights for women. Ms. Borchardt was surprised by the attitude of some of her male counterparts in law school because the University of Tulsa College of Law supported her attendance with a scholarship and Tulsa County Bar Association members had written recommendations for her admission and scholarship. She and other women experienced resentment from some male students for "taking slots that men should have gotten" and were told at student orientation that if they wanted a social life, they should tell men they were secretaries. Ms. Borchardt was one of three women who the TU Women's Law Caucus, and because all three of the founders' names began with the letter "B," they were dubbed "the Three Bitches." Ms. Borchardt served as the first president of the Women's Law Caucus and, when the opportunity presented itself, used the position to interest more women in attending law school. She credits the Women and the Law conferences in Philadelphia, Austin, and Palo Alto, and renowned speakers, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sarah Weddington, for serving as life preservers for her and other Tulsa women law students, which helped them get through the low moments. After law school, Ms. Borchardt was ready for admission to the bar. The ceremony was memorable for her in many ways, but she specifically recalls being stopped at the door of the room for the admission ceremony and informed the visitors' gallery was upstairs. A long-time attorney friend (male) vouched for her and she was allowed to attend the ceremony and take the oath. Looking for a job in Tulsa in 1976, Ms. Borchardt was told to apply only at certain law firms because most did not hire women. She accepted a job as an associate, was paid less than any of the secretaries, and was told she would do no courtroom work. She even prepped male associates to meet with clients on whose cases she had done all the work. She says she knew something had to be done. Ms. Borchardt and other female friends practicing law who were having similar experiences decided to organize the Tulsa Women's Law Association. The formation of this association did not go smoothly. This was not because of male opposition - they did not care because they did not take it seriously. The opposition came from a purely social event for female attorneys, husbands, and friends, a couple of female attorney stormed the party to protest because they thought it was an organizational meeting. Nonetheless, organization took place as advertised in the Tulsa Daily Business Journal and Legal Record the week of September 29, 1983. Kathy Borchardt was elected Founding President she says by default since no one else was willing to do it.

To make a further impact for women on the Tulsa County Bar Association, she served on the Board and chaired the Nominations and Awards Committee. She decided that if more women were to be elected as delegates and to offices, the easiest way was to run a woman against a woman; that way a woman would win! TCBA activities were fun and a place to make lasting friendships. She counted playing the roles of Stephanie Seymour, Alma Wilson and the San Diego Chicken in TCBA's Gridiron among her best memories. In order to keep the idea of women in the legal profession in the public, she volunteered to speak at civic, church, temple, school, Masonic, and women's support organizations. Whatever the subject, wherever the location, she was there. Ms. Borchardt said that she thought the legal profession's attitude toward women would have eventually improved without the WLC, TWLA, and other organized efforts, but she also thought that these activities hastened the change. Without a doubt, she knew that the organized system of women helping women was invaluable in keeping women’s hopes high while change occurred. At the time of this article Kathy Borchardt happily reported that men were some of the biggest boosters of women in the law and certainly instrumental in helping her maintain her solo practice. Kathy Evans Borchardt passed away May 27,

2009.

The TCBA is taking a look back to share the stories of women in law and their contributions to the legal community. This article was originally printed in Women in Law as part of the TCBA Centennial Celebration in 2002 and recognized at the Women in Law Conference in Dallas, Texas that same year.