Phelan, Marilyn 1998-09-09

Dr. Marilyn Phelan discusses her career as an attorney and professor at Texas Tech University's School of Law.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Marilyn Phelan

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: Spetmeber 09, 1998

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Fred Allison

Length: 1 hour 20 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Marilyn Phelan, Born: Lubbock, Texas, Graduated from Levelland High School, Texas Tech University, University of Texas School of Law, Attended before obtaining her Ph.D. (1959), Passed bar exam (1962), Received J. D. degree (1972), Levelland, Texas (again), Began law practice (1962), Women in law school, 3% of the law school student body were women (1962), 40 - 50% are women in 1998, The 1960s, Law firms would not interview female law graduates, Only two women attorneys in Lubbock, Judge Pat Moor, Joyce Hill, Interest in law, Parents opinions of women attorneys, Father: supportive, Mother: "a woman’s place is in the home" opinion, Women in law school/profession, Professors would not call on women in class, Law firms would not interview women graduates, Irritating, but expected, Law practice, Tax law, Minor in accounting, Decided to become a certified public accountant, Changes in the tax law, Basic concepts/theories do not change, Tax code changes almost every year, Taxes, Economic state of the Bahamas, Internal Revenue Service, Taxes (again), Law practice, Husband, Six years as law partners, Education, Family, Law practice (again), Specializations, Take an exam to become a specialized attorney, At one point you could not become specialized, Texas Tech University, Law school faculty (1974), Taught elementary accounting (1969) while obtaining a master’s and doctorate, After receiving doctorate, became a full-time faculty member, Taught accounting and tax courses, Began teaching tax in law school, Associate dean of graduate studies, General Council, Texas Tech University, Cases, Governmental immunity, Texas Tech protected under the law.

Tape 1, Side 2: Termination of tenured faculty, Protected under 14th Amendment, Law Students, Less motivated now than in the past, Texas Tech is occasionally number one for students who pass the bar, Texas Tech University Law School requirement, Advice for those interested in attending law school, Have an interest in law, Willing to spend time to the profession, Types of law, Common Law came from England, Civil Law, Napoleonic Law, Court Reform, Perceptions of lawyers, Has worsened, Schools teach courses in ethics and professional responsibility, Texas State Bar, Policing agent for lawyers, Cannot practice without passing the state bar exam, After passing the bar, lawyers continue to take updated law courses, Lubbock County Bar Association, Malpractice against attorney, How to file a malpractice complaint, Legal fees, Specializations (again), Mediation, Effect of Women on the legal profession, Tend not to charge as much as men, Museum Laws, Developed course.

Tape 2, Side 1: Museum Law (continued), Museum Science, Effect of Texas Tech University’s School of Law on Lubbock, Most Lubbock lawyers are Tech graduates, Brought a lot of lawyers to town, causing competition and making lower fees, Awards, Teaching, Students, American State Bar, Expensive, Many dropped membership because the Bar took, position on certain issues, Abortion, Organization involvement, Internal Revenue Service (again), Organization involvement (again), Politics.

Tape 2, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1950-1998

Bulk Dates: 1962-1998

Access Information

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