Rosemary Kenyon, Smith Anderson

Raleigh

Law school: University of Notre Dame Law School

Undergraduate: B.A. Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame

Rosemary Kenyon has built a successful career in business law, but has never forgotten those who came before her and helped pave a path for women to practice law. She’s even helped create a book about them.

You helped publish “The Changing Face of Justice: A Look at the First 100 Women Attorneys in North Carolina.” Describe a woman who really resonates with you.

The stories of so many of these women revealed such quiet courage and determination as they traveled down what was then a very lonely path to law. By the time I attended law school in the late 1970s, I have to say that my contemporaries and I took for granted our relatively easy access to law school and licensing, and did not appreciate what women faced. Tabitha Holton was the first woman lawyer licensed in North Carolina. In 1878, Miss Holton came to Raleigh for the bar exam, which was administered by the Supreme Court. She was sent away and told to return with a lawyer to present arguments why she should be allowed to sit for the exam. After a vigorous and contested hearing, Miss Holton was allowed to sit for the exam, passing with flying colors. Miss Holton provides a good lesson for all of us on the simple formula for facing uncertainty and challenge: hard work and determination.

Why do you believe it is important for women to assume leadership roles, not just in the law, but in all professions?

Women have a right and an obligation to assume leadership roles in their professions, just as all members of a profession do. If women do not assume leadership roles, these professions, and the communities they support, are deprived of the voice of this important segment.

You spend a great deal of time helping people in need through your pro bono work. Why is this work important to you?

I was very fortunate to have parents who raised my siblings and me to think about what we could do to help others. Focusing on how I can help those who have less gives me a larger purpose in life and is very satisfying.

What was your favorite subject in high school? Did you pursue those studies in college or beyond?

My favorite subjects in high school were history and a course in world religions, because they opened a door to how the larger world worked. I pursued economics and psychology in college for many of the same reasons.

What is your favorite vacation destination?

My favorite vacation destination is someplace where my immediate family may enjoy time together either exploring the world or just relaxing together. Women have a right and an obligation to assume leadership roles in their professions.