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The Law in Her Hands (1936) movie poster

Timeline

The Law in Her Hands (1936) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1936 · 58 mins · English
Directed by
William Clemens
Starring
Joseph Crehan, Addison Richards, Lyle Talbot, Stuart Holmes, Howard Hickman, Margaret Lindsay

INSIDE STORY of gangdom’s notorious lady mouthpiece! A female lawyer sets up her own practice but only achieves success as an attorney for the mob.

Drama Crime Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (13)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like The Law in Her Hands
  5. 5 Every angle

13 events in order · contains spoilers

The Law in Her Hands Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Law in Her Hands (1936) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Two waitresses become lawyers

    Mary Wentworth and Dorothy Davis pass the New York bar exam and begin their careers as lawyers. They navigate a male-dominated field with determination, forming a rare collaborative partnership. Their relationship with their employer Franz provides the setting for the early days of their practice.

    When
    early 1930s
    Where
    New York

  2. Photo just before the smoke bomb

    Franz inadvertently photographs a gangster moments before he ignites a smoke bomb in the restaurant. The attack is meant to intimidate Franz into joining a protection racket run by Frank Gordon. The photo becomes a crucial piece of evidence linking the gangster to the crime.

    When
    moments before the attack
    Where
    New York restaurant

  3. First prosecution led by Robert Mitchell

    The gangster is arrested and the case goes to trial. Robert Mitchell, Mary's boyfriend, prosecutes the case while Mary and Dorothy contribute key evidence. The courtroom becomes a test of Mary’s budding legal skill against organized crime.

    When
    shortly after the bombing
    Where
    Courtroom, New York

  4. Mary and Dorothy prove the defendant's location

    At the trial, Gordon seeks witnesses to deny the gangster’s presence at the restaurant. Mary and Dorothy present the photograph, establishing the defendant’s location and credibility. Gordon is impressed by Mary’s performance and later offers her a job.

    When
    during trial
    Where
    Courtroom, New York

  5. Mary declines Gordon's offer

    Gordon offers to hire Mary as his lawyer, hoping to pull her into the underworld’s orbit. She declines the invitation, choosing to stay clear of Gordon's criminal activities. The moment marks a clear line between her integrity and Gordon’s influence.

    When
    after trial
    Where
    Gordon's office / court corridor

  6. Corrupt attempt and a woman's resolve

    A corrupt lawyer plants a bottle of liquor in a coat that Mary had submitted as evidence, causing her to lose her first case. Robert Mitchell comes to believe that the law is not a suitable profession for a woman and asks Mary to abandon her career to marry him. Mary’s resolve begins to sharpen in response to this setback.

    When
    after the first defeat
    Where
    Courtroom, New York

  7. A pledge to persevere for a year

    Mary declares that she will persevere in the law and not give up despite the setback. She sets a personal challenge: if she cannot find success within a year, she will consider marrying Robert as he wishes. Her vow signals a determination to prove herself.

    When
    within a year
    Where
    New York

  8. A test case and a courtroom victory against Robert

    Robert suggests Mary take on a case involving a man who has already confessed as a trial of her abilities. Later, Mary uses a similar strategic move to challenge Robert in court and defeats him. The victory reinforces her growing reputation in the legal world.

    When
    soon after the vow
    Where
    Courtroom, New York

  9. Mary joins Gordon as a client; firm grows

    Mary finally accepts Gordon as a client, joining the criminal enterprise in a professional capacity. Her involvement helps the fledgling law firm expand into a large, busy operation with substantial work. The partnership marks a turning point in her career trajectory.

    When
    shortly after the victory over Robert
    Where
    New York

  10. Milk poisoning case prompts a crisis of conscience

    Mary learns that Gordon's gang was responsible for poisoning milk, causing multiple deaths. The revelation forces her to rethink remaining with Gordon’s side. She begins to doubt whether she can continue representing him without compromising her ethics.

    When
    before defending him in court
    Where
    New York

  11. Confronting Gordon in court

    Gordon pressures Mary to defend him despite the poisoning case. In a pivotal courtroom moment, she turns on him, accusing him of the crimes and helping secure a conviction. The act solidifies her commitment to justice over loyalty to her client.

    When
    during trial
    Where
    Courtroom, New York

  12. Disbarment is pursued and won

    Mary pursues an appeal to be disbarred and succeeds, choosing to sever her official ties with the bar. The disbarment symbolizes a formal break from the legal profession she had been building. It underscores the complexities of her relationship with law and morality.

    When
    after conviction
    Where
    Bar association / court

  13. A final decision: marriage over a legal career

    Mary informs Robert that she will abandon her law career to marry him, closing the chapter on her remarkable rise in law. Her decision reflects the personal conflict between professional ambition and romantic partnership. The ending marks a bittersweet resolution to her journey.

    When
    after disbarment
    Where
    Robert's home

Last updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:24

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Timeline questions answered

The Law in Her Hands Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Law in Her Hands (1936): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Mary accept Frank Gordon as a client after initially refusing?

After defeating Robert in court with a strategic victory, Mary gained confidence in her legal abilities. Gordon's earlier impressed reaction to her courtroom performance and his continued interest in hiring her created an opportunity she eventually took. The firm was struggling financially, and accepting Gordon as a client brought significant business, transforming their small practice into a large, successful operation.

Foreshadowing: Gordon's offer after the trial, which Mary initially declined, hinted at his persistent interest in having her represent him.

  • mary wentworth
  • frank gordon
  • lawyer
  • client
  • mob
Q2

Why did Mary accuse Gordon of the milk poisoning in court?

Mary discovered that Gordon's gang was responsible for poisoning milk that killed multiple people. This revelation created a severe ethical crisis for her, as she could not in good conscience continue defending a client guilty of such a heinous crime. When Gordon forced her to represent him despite her objections, she chose to turn against him and helped secure his conviction.

Foreshadowing: The earlier plot established Gordon as a crime boss involved in various illegal activities, making this moral conflict inevitable.

  • mary wentworth
  • frank gordon
  • milk poisoning
  • conviction
  • courtroom
Q3

How did Mary lose her first court case?

A corrupt lawyer planted a bottle of liquor inside a coat that Mary had submitted as evidence in her case. This tampering created false evidence that worked against her client, resulting in her losing the case. The setup was designed to discredit her and undermine her credibility as a lawyer.

  • mary wentworth
  • first case
  • evidence
  • lawyer
  • frame
Q4

Why did Mary request to be disbarred after convicting Gordon?

After turning against Gordon and helping to convict him of the milk poisoning crimes, Mary felt she could no longer remain a member of the legal profession while having represented a mob boss responsible for killing people. She successfully appealed to be disbarred, choosing to formally sever her ties with the bar rather than continue practicing law with the stain of having represented a mass murderer.

Foreshadowing: Mary's ethical stance was foreshadowed by her initial refusal to work for Gordon and her growing conscience about his criminal activities.

  • mary wentworth
  • disbarment
  • ethics
  • lawyer
  • conviction
Q5

How did Mary beat Robert Mitchell at trial after he gave her a losing case?

Robert suggested Mary represent a man who had already signed a confession, expecting her to fail. However, Mary used similar legal tactics to challenge the prosecution's case. She successfully attacked the evidence and witnesses, ultimately defeating Robert in court. This victory proved her legal skills and marked a turning point in her career.

Foreshadowing: Robert's attempt to discourage Mary by giving her a difficult case inadvertently provided her with an opportunity to demonstrate her abilities.

  • mary wentworth
  • robert mitchell
  • courtroom victory
  • trial
  • confession
Q6

Why did Mary abandon her legal career at the end of the film?

After successfully convicting Gordon and being disbarred, Mary informed Robert that she would give up her law career to marry him. This decision represented a personal choice to prioritize her relationship over her professional ambitions. Having achieved professional vindication by defeating Robert in court and proving herself as a capable lawyer, she chose to end her career on her own terms rather than continue fighting in a male-dominated field.

Foreshadowing: Mary's earlier promise to Robert that she would consider marriage if she couldn't find success within a year established this as a possible outcome.

  • mary wentworth
  • robert mitchell
  • marriage
  • law career
  • ending
Q7

How did the photograph help prove the gangster's location at the restaurant?

Franz, the restaurant owner, inadvertently photographed the gangster moments before he set off a smoke bomb. At trial, when Gordon tried to provide witnesses claiming the defendant wasn't at the restaurant, Mary and Dorothy presented the photograph as concrete evidence showing the gangster's presence. This physical proof contradicted the alibi witnesses and helped secure the conviction.

  • photograph
  • evidence
  • trial
  • gangster
  • alibi
Q8

Why did Robert Mitchell want Mary to quit practicing law?

After Mary lost her first case due to the planted evidence, Robert concluded that the legal profession was too difficult for a woman to succeed in. He asked her to abandon her career and marry him instead, believing she couldn't handle the pressures and challenges of being a lawyer in the male-dominated legal world of the 1930s.

  • robert mitchell
  • mary wentworth
  • gender discrimination
  • lawyer
  • marriage

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Law in Her Hands, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Law in Her Hands tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fast-Paced Underdog Stories like The Law in Her Hands

Quick-witted characters rise quickly in competitive professional worlds. Explore movies like The Law in Her Hands where clever, ambitious protagonists quickly make their mark. If you enjoyed the rapid-fire career rise and professional sparring, you'll find similar stories of tenacious underdogs navigating competitive worlds with wit and confidence.

  • confident
  • tenacious
  • professional
  • rivalrous
  • fast-paced
  • triumphant
  • Tone: confident, competitive, lighthearted
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a quick ascent, where a protagonist overcomes initial skepticism through a string of clever successes. The central conflict revolves around professional rivalry and proving one's competence, often set against a backdrop of a traditionally exclusive field, leading to a triumphant vindication of skill.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a specific energy: a fast pace that mirrors a character's rapid rise, a confident and often lighthearted tone despite professional stakes, and a core theme of ambition and competition that is more entertaining than deeply anguished.

The Law in Her Hands movie poster

The Law in Her Hands

1936
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Law of the Badlands

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Saddle Legion

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DGK: Parental Advisory

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The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power

2015

Movies with Moral Dilemmas like in The Law in Her Hands

Characters profit from shady alliances but face a defining ethical choice. Find more films like The Law in Her Hands where characters navigate ethical gray zones. If you liked the story of a lawyer wrestling with the morality of defending mob clients, you'll enjoy these narratives about professional ambition clashing with personal conscience.

  • moral dilemma
  • professional ambition
  • courtroom drama
  • criminal underworld
  • ethical choice
  • redemptive
  • Tone: neutral, mildly suspenseful
  • Pacing: steady, with a decisive climax
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story arc involves a pragmatic but ultimately moral character who gains success by working within or alongside a criminal system. This success creates internal conflict, culminating in a climax where the character's ethics are tested, forcing them to take a stand that reaffirms their inherent goodness, often at a personal cost.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by a shared narrative structure of ethical negotiation and redemption. They balance the appeal of a cunning protagonist operating in a dangerous world with the satisfying emotional payoff of a moral reckoning, resulting in a feel-good ending where integrity wins.

The Law in Her Hands movie poster

The Law in Her Hands

1936
Cold Weather movie poster

Cold Weather

2011
Law of the Badlands movie poster

Law of the Badlands

1951
Singing Guns movie poster

Singing Guns

1950
Overland Telegraph movie poster

Overland Telegraph

1951
Trail Guide movie poster

Trail Guide

1952
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power movie poster

The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power

2015
Saddle Legion movie poster

Saddle Legion

1951

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Every angle

The Law in Her Hands (1936) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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