Agnes Lundell Explained

Agnes Lundell (13 July 1878 – 17 September 1936), also known as Agneta, was the Finland's first female lawyer.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Born on 13 July 1878 in Turku, Finland, Agnes Lundell was the daughter of Alfred Wilhelm Lundell (1839 – 1904) and Olga Wilhelmina Åkerman(1846 – 1900). She studied in a Girls’ School at Turku.^[3] She later enrolled at the Imperial Alexander University to study law. In 1906 she became the first woman in Finland to graduate with a law degree.^{[4] [5]}

Upon graduation, Agnes Lundell began her legal career as the secretary of a senate division.^[1] In 1911 she became the first woman lawyer in Finland.^{[6] [7]}

She also involved in business. With Hjalmar Erlund, one of her school mates from Turku, she established a bilingual law firm named “Lundell & Erlund.” In the beginning of her legal career, she faced many challenges including dress code, and the use of her first name in judicial offices.^{[1] [5]}

She was also known for her feminist activities particularly her lectures on upholding women's rights.

She died in Helsinki on 17 September 1936.

Notes and References

1. Book: Schultz, Ulrike . 2003. Women in the World's Legal Professions. 25 June 2022. Oxford . Hart Publishing . 389. 978-1-841-13319-5.
2. Web site: Lundell, Agnes (1878 - 1936) . 2022-06-25 . kansallisbiografia.fi.
3. Nieminen . Marjo . Breakers of glass ceilings: the professional careers of women in Finland and the graduates of three girls' upper secondary schools (1890s–1910s) . Paedagogica Historica: International Journal of the History of Education. 2022 . 1–16. 10.1080/00309230.2022.2077118. 249219895 . free.
4. Book: Löhnig, Martin . 24 February 2022. Rechtskultur 10: Legal Gender Studies. 25 June 2022. Norderstedt . BoD – Books on Demand . 87. 978-3-963-74048-0.
5. Book: Kimble, Sara L.. 1 July 2016. New Perspectives on European Women's Legal History. 25 June 2022. Oxon . Routledge . 293. 978-1-317-57716-4.
6. Book: Fisher, Beatrice . 2002. A Tribute to Women Lawyers Worldwide: FIDA, 1944-1994 : International Federation of Women Lawyers. 25 June 2022. Lagos . Macmillan Nigeria. 151. 978-9-780-18321-9.
7. Web site: Lundell, Agnes . 2022-06-25 . www.uppslagsverket.fi.