[2][1] In Paterson, he worked days as a bobbin boy in the textile factories, and attended night classes.

On December 16, 1898, Governor James Budd named Lawlor, then age 40, a judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court.

[1][10][11] As a Superior Court judge, Lawlor dismissed indictments in the San Francisco trolley bribery cases against officials of the United Railroads.

[12][13][14] In 1910, Lawlor ran unsuccessfully against Republican candidate Henry A. Melvin for the California Supreme Court.

[17][18][1] In 1922, Lawlor ran against Curtis D. Wilbur for the position of chief justice, but lost.