As the classic courtroom comedy drama Legally Blonde celebrates its 25th anniversary, a new generation of women lawyers are crediting the film's protagonist, Elle Woods, with inspiring their legal careers. From senior associates to managing attorneys, these women have embraced Woods' pioneering spirit, proving that staying true to oneself can lead to success in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Angela McCarthy: Senior Associate at Lawrence Stephens, London
Angela McCarthy, a senior associate at Lawrence Stephens in London, says Elle Woods made being a lawyer look glamorous and exciting. 'What really drew me in was that she made it look like if you stay true to what you believe in and relied on your instinct, you could do anything,' McCarthy explains. 'She stood up for what she believed in and came out at the top of her class. It was very empowering.'
McCarthy notes that the legal profession is highly competitive and male-dominated, especially at senior levels. 'When I'd come out of university and had my law degree under my belt, my inner Elle Woods became the driving force behind everything,' she says. 'I've been lucky in the sense that I am myself when I go into work, and the firm I work in knows I do a good job, so I don't have to pretend to be anyone else.'
Kathleen Martinez: Managing Attorney Specializing in Immigration, Dallas-Fort Worth
Kathleen Martinez, a managing attorney in Dallas-Fort Worth who specializes in immigration law, recalls watching Legally Blonde and thinking, 'Oh my god, I can be taken seriously.' Martinez, who has always embraced a feminine style, says the film validated her approach. 'Elle helped people, and she helps people by relating to her clients, specifically through being approachable,' she explains.
Martinez found the legal profession's culture toxic, especially in lawyer Facebook groups. 'I realised I was never going to get accepted anywhere. Like many women in the field, I had to create my own table instead of joining another one, so I started my own firm,' she says. Her husband encouraged her to use a billboard featuring herself in pink, which proved effective. 'It worked because people could see it and relate to me, and they'd remember because of it. Now, everyone in my firm wears the colour.' Martinez says being called the real Elle Woods is 'a badge I wear with honour, and it's awesome marketing.'
Haley Moss: Licensed Attorney and Neurodiversity Expert, Miami-Fort Lauderdale
Haley Moss, a licensed attorney and neurodiversity expert in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, relates to Elle Woods' experience in law school. 'I think a lot about the scene where they're in a circle at orientation. I felt just like her,' Moss says. 'I had a very non-traditional background: I was a psych major, an author and illustrator. Everyone around me felt so much more serious.'
Moss, who is autistic, finds Elle relatable, especially her desire to make friends and her intense hobbies. 'Law school has a way of making people forget who they are. They lose sight of their passions. Elle was there, not only embracing that she loved everything pink and feminine, but was also able to use it to her advantage,' Moss explains. Her ultimate Elle Woods moment came at law school graduation, where she was elected class speaker and wore a pink dress under her robes, ending with 'We did it!'
Hadiyah Cummings: Civil Rights Attorney and Founder of LawyHer, Washington DC-Baltimore
Hadiyah Cummings, a civil rights attorney and founder of the nonprofit LawyHer, says Elle Woods inspired the kind of lawyer she wanted to be. 'What struck me is how Elle refused to shrink herself to be taken seriously. She inspired me to not shrink myself when I became a lawyer,' Cummings says. Her nonprofit is dedicated to redefining what it means to be a woman in the legal profession, ensuring women feel empowered to show up as their full selves.
Cummings acknowledges that as a Black woman, Elle's character as a white cis woman may not seem immediately relatable. However, she says, 'Watching the film, I was able to see that she's more than a white woman who loves wearing pink outfits. It's more about the assumptions people make about you, and how you can be consistently underestimated simply because of the fact that you exist outside the traditional, archaic norms of professionalism.' In law school, Cummings strutted through hallways with her pink bag and her own style, building a community around her authenticity.
Jacqueline LaBayne: Law School Graduate Preparing for the Bar, Orange, California
Jacqueline LaBayne, a law school graduate set to take the bar exam this year, says she watched Legally Blonde every night before every exam. 'I remember being inspired by Elle because she was so fearless. She'd just be like "Oh, I'll go to Harvard and it'll be easy, and there's no doubt in my mind that I can do this,"' LaBayne recalls. The film's message about using the legal system to create change resonated with her, especially after her own experience with assault.
LaBayne has faced criticism for her pink suits from professors who deemed them unprofessional. 'I've had professors tell me it's unprofessional and I had a choice to continue trying to be myself, or go with the status quo and wear the boring black and blue. Like Elle, I'm not going to let someone tell me what I can and can't wear,' she says. LaBayne plans to watch the movie the night before the bar exam, continuing her tradition.
