Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when the last slaves in the United States were finally freed, has long been a holiday for much of Black America. This year, amid Black Lives Matter protests in all 50 states, the rest of the country, including major law firms, is taking time to recognize this important day.

In honor of Juneteenth this year, we’ve compiled a list of five black attorneys who were truly the firsts of their time and paved the way for the generations to come. Their fearless tenacity opened doors for many, and we pay tribute to them today and every day.