In 1868 , Bradwell founded the '' Chicago Legal News '' . With her husband 's legal help , she persuaded the Illinois legislature to pass a special law , so that she could serve as both editor and business manager of the Chicago Legal News Company ( it had other publications , and produced stationery and legal forms ) . Although the paper 's offices were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 , it continued to publish . The widely circulated paper published information about court opinions , laws , and court ordinances , and also had a muckraking function . Its reporters criticized corruption within the local bar and judiciary , and urged railroad regulation . Bradwell also was determined to improve women 's status in society , so the paper included a column entitled " Law Relating to Women "
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Myra Bradwell