Told that law firms don’t hire “girls” in 1960, this inspiring trailblazer is still practicing law at 93

At 93 years old, Dona Kahn is still practicing law. Not consulting occasionally or staying loosely involved, but actively working in a profession she entered nearly seven decades ago. In a world that often suggests there is a point when you are supposed to slow down or step aside, her life tells a very different story.

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A Path Shaped by Necessity

Kahn graduated from high school in 1950, at a time when opportunities for women were limited and clearly defined. She grew up in a family where no one had attended college. Her father only had a third-grade education after immigrating from Latvia. Education was the path out of poverty, and becoming a professional was not just a goal but a necessity.

Her mother reinforced that message with a perspective that was far ahead of its time, encouraging her to pursue a profession so she could always support herself if she ever needed to leave a marriage. Her financial reality shaped her choices. Even though she was accepted into top law schools, including Columbia and NYU, she chose Rutgers because it allowed her to commute and continue working as a waitress to support herself.

Breaking Into a Closed Profession

Despite graduating at the top of her class and earning a place on law review, Kahn entered a workforce that did not welcome her. When she began looking for a job in 1960, she was repeatedly told that firms did not hire “girls.” Her credentials did not change that reality. Her persistence did. She found her first opportunity at the Department of Agriculture, writing regulations related to the Poultry Inspection Act. It was not a field she knew, but it was a role that required the strong writing and analytical skills she had. From there, her career expanded quickly.

She began handling arbitration hearings across the country, often as the only woman in the room. When she was sent to handle a case in the livestock industry because a male colleague was unavailable, there was concern that she could not manage it. She proved them wrong and was invited back.

A Career That Kept Evolving

Kahn went on to take on increasingly complex roles. She worked in environmental law with the Environmental Protection Agency, helping draft regulations that determined what companies could release into the air and water. She later became Chief of the Legal Branch for EPA Region 3 and helped enforce environmental standards across a large area.

She then moved into a leadership role with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, running a litigation center.  From there, she transitioned into private practice, co-founding a firm with another woman and building a successful career representing major corporations and institutions.

Her career was not mapped out in advance. It evolved through opportunity, adaptability, and a willingness to step into roles that were not traditionally open to her.

Despite graduating at the top of her class and earning a place on law review, Kahn entered a workforce that did not welcome her. When she began looking for a job in 1960, she was repeatedly told that firms did not hire “girls.” Her credentials did not change that reality. Her persistence did.

Facing Discrimination Head-On

Throughout her career, Kahn faced discrimination that was both overt and normalized at the time. Early on, she experienced inappropriate behavior from a senior official and understood that reporting it could cost her job. In another instance, she was denied service at a hotel bar because women were not allowed without a male companion.

Rather than accept it, she challenged the policy, writing letters and escalating the issue until the rule was changed.

What stands out is not just that these moments happened, but how she responded. She did not build her identity around the barriers. She moved through them, addressed them when she could, and kept going.

Kahn has never measured her life by age. Later in her career, she made the decision to take on something new and expand her work even further, becoming a certified mediator after completing 150 hours of training and working in family court. She continues to stay engaged, attending concerts, hosting regular dinners, and maintaining an active social life.

Her approach is practical. You do not have to be the smartest person in the room. You have to be the most prepared. Do not take things personally. Keep moving forward.

At 93, she still walks to work. It takes longer than it used to, but she continues to go. She continues to practice. She continues to engage.

Redefining What Is Possible

The idea that there is an age when you are supposed to stop has never aligned with how Kahn has lived her life. The expectations placed on her at every stage were often restrictive, but they never became the limits she accepted.

For anyone who has been told they are too old to start, continue, or pursue something new, her life offers a clear example that those limits are rarely real. They are assumptions that can be challenged and ignored.

Dona Kahn did not set out to prove anyone wrong. She simply kept moving forward.

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