Last September, when I gave remarks at a vigil following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I asked those gathered to mourn and grieve to imagine what Philadelphia’s own class of first women—at firms, courthouses and other legal jobs—might want to tell us. I could hear them telling all of us who felt that loss was unbearable that there was too much work to do to be heartbroken, that we had to get to it. I urged those who were privileged to know and learn from some of those first women to reach out and thank them for creating the world where we could make the lives and careers as we wanted. I was particularly thinking of the trailblazing women who helped me find my own path. One of the people I was thinking of that night was Lila Roomberg, a Philadelphia first who we lost recently.

Lila Roomberg, formerly of Ballard Spahr. She passed away March 17 at age 93. Courtesy photo Lila Roomberg, the first female partner at Ballard Spahr, died March 17 at age 93. Courtesy photo

Lila was the first woman and first Jewish partner at Ballard Spahr, a place she landed after her New York University (NYU) law degree could not get her a job in New York. She started as a document manager and quasi-librarian, but the trust and confidence of male partners led to more assignments and responsibility. She worked her way up, ultimately became a firm partner and a leading public finance lawyer, got involved in bar association activities, and mentored the men and women at her firm and across the city.

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