Clara Shortridge Foltz (July 16, 1849 - September 2, 1934) was the first female lawyer on the West Coast and initiated the idea of the public defender. Clara's legal career began when she changed the California legal code by replacing "white male" with "person," which allowed her to become California's first woman lawyer. During a career that spanned 56 years she was able to advance a great deal of legislation for women's rights in the legal field. The author tells Clara's story in the context of its times which reveals Clara to be a woman of timeless inspiration. 1st Woman lawyer California 1st Practicing Woman lawyer in the US 1st Woman admitted Hastings Law School 1st Woman Clerk for State Judiciary Committee 1st Woman State Board of Calif. Normal Schools 1st Woman State Board of Charities 1st Woman Notary Public 1st Woman Deputy D. A., LA County, and US 1st Woman Director of a major bank. 1st woman to run for Governor of California CREATED: Public Defenders office (32 states) Lady Lawyer Bill, Women to become lawyers Woman's Rights Amendment 1911 Concept of California parole system PUBLISHER AND EDITOR: San Diego Daily Bee newspaper Oil and Furnace Magazine New American Woman Magazine