First female lawyer in Connecticut.

Mary Hall stirred up controversy when in 1882, at the age 38, she declared her intention to become a lawyer. It was not a question of qualifications, for Mary Hall had studied law with one of Hartford's most respected attorneys; she had been well educated at Wesleyan Academy and had taught mathematics there and at LaSalle Seminary. Mary was born in Marlborough, one of several children of Gustave Hall, a prosperous farmer and miller, a man of rare liberal convictions since, in his opinion, "women as well as men had an equal right to the ballot box and an equal chance to the employment of its blessings, as well as a share in the burden of our government."

Her burning ambition to practice law was kindled on a trip to Hartford, where she attended her first women's suffrage convention. There she heard John Hooker explain the restrictive property rights of married women. Hooker's wife, Isabella, was a nationally known champion of women's rights. Mary revealed to her brother, Ezra, her desire to study law. He discouraged her, but when she persisted, gave her a copy of a difficult legal work. Mary pored over it with such enthusiasm that he agreed to have her study law in his office.

When Ezra died a few months later, John Hooker took Mary into his law office, where she studied for almost four years. In March 1882, Mary made her bid for formal recognition. In an open courtroom, four attorneys administered her exam. Mary passed, but the Hartford County Bar Association felt a judicial decision was necessary. The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld Mary's right to be an attorney.

Once settled in practice, Mary rarely appeared in open court but spent most of her time handling wills and property matters, mostly for women. She continued to practice law for more than four decades.