She graduated high school early, and at sixteen, Arley enrolled in
Northeastern University School of Law, but she was too young to take the Bar when she graduated in 1932. She volunteered in a legal clinic, and worked three other jobs, until she was old enough to take and pass the Massachusetts Bar in 1935. After passing the Bar, she worked in the legal department at the
Federal Land Bank, where she was the only female lawyer. After moving to Reno, she was admitted to the Nevada Bar in 1947. Only two other women passed the bar that year, and only two other women were practicing in Reno at the time. She was a
plaintiff's attorney, who litigated
divorce,
personal injury, and
criminal cases. She appealed several cases to the
Nevada Supreme Court and secured several victories. In 1949, she represented Reno at the
International Federation of Women Lawyers in Rome, Italy. In 1952, she began to represent a client in a matter that would become known as the
Petticoats Trial. The press selected the name of a woman's garment because it was the first trial in
Washoe County with opposing female
advocates. The defendant was represented by Nada Novokovich, another female lawyer. It was also the first jury trial for both Arley and Novokovich. Arley's client alleged that he was pushed off of a bar stool and brought a lawsuit in state court. Arley won the case and the client was awarded $3,000. In 2007, Arley was honored with a plaque in the Judge John S. Belford's courtroom where the Petticoats Trial was argued. In 1989, Arley was the first woman to be honored as an outstanding woman attorney in Northern Nevada. She was selected unanimously. Arley continued to practice law in her eighties. ==References==