New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-21
nANTTFACTURING LAWYERS
,n,,1Ss1nN TO THE BAR.

..rsN-In
shlr nsr OF EMINENT LAWYERS.
,v,o now regulations for admission to the
- s,.nlis he'd by the Judges Of the Court OF Appears
81 tbis state under the fChapter 1856 Laws OF
,O-, are causing considerable discussion Ihey VIII
nrobably soon be brought up as regular supee' Ior
debate l,v the Bar Association Meanwhile, briei con-
alteration OF their merits and dement's, and presenta
on 81 the views entertained concerning them ny rev
leading LAWYERS will help such public attention 10
this important matter as it deserves. seven years
faithful preparation formerly required Deiore ho
yopug candidate admitted TO pracuee law Si"'o
1876 there been great laxiy in this matter anu u
consequent deterioration in the profession lne sy
Of the American Bar is however in this respect quite
analogous TO that OF the Bar OF England In must hV
mean countries there societies OF lawyers having V
their objects the defense Of the legal profession anu W
maintenance of its privileges. The laws OF Court IN Lon
don are very ancient and the heads Of the societies nave
the exclusive privilege of Judging of the capacities o
students and Of calling them to the Bar. The quahca-
ton formerly three years residence ana s'uuy III
the laws Of Court but this had OF late years
into form presence in the common hall and eathg tue
Socetys dinners for II successive terms behg accepeu
as evidence Of the study Hence in process OF nme the
capacity dining TO he regarded as the qualna
ton This absurdity Notwithstanding the Bar OF En-
lgapd has never been wanting in talent OF the hghes
order: and Of late years the prandial COURSE "
study has been amended return TO tho -
cient system adopted, and q rigorous eH'iI" ,,,ar
of candidates prescribed. In France there arc |
societies Napoleon established chGDl0res deS e'o'''
These chambers are attached to each COURT "nu na'
the power Of suspension or dismissal. An appear at
the decision Of the chamber is permitted 10 ' p &
grived In Belgium, Switzerland, ana l''"S '"'' ""'0
Councils OF Discipline 49,,
Since the relaxing Of the old seyenyer ruie 'ue prep
grafton and examination for the Bar has become mere
farce The nresent condition of affairs IN this respect Is
thus stated v correspondent who is disposed to crtl-
else the new regulations There are plenty OF lawyers
toSign any sort of certificate with one mana II lhey
can feel fat fee the other and OF students 10 pay
tbe,n AGdavits to order be bought by the fOho'
The filing in the Clerks Office OF the Court OF Appeals
offers no additional security"
As few lawyers have carefully examined the new
rues brief recapitulaon Of them is called for before
they are considered further Rule says that no person
shall be admitted TO practice law in any court Oh RECORD
in the State without license by the Supreme Court
after an examination under direction OF that Court
Rule gives the proofs requisite to show that candi-
date is entitled to an examination. These are % that he
Is citizen Of the department wherein the application Is
made and has not undergone similar examination III
any other department within three months (9 certin-
Gates Of his character from the attorneys with
whom he has passed his cerkship together with cor
roboraye testimony (3) proofs that he has served the
clerkshp OF pursued the substituted course OF study
prescribed by the rules requisite to an examination
Rule g. No person shall be admitted 10 examination as at
toey solicitor counselor, unless ne SdH mare Serre"
regular cCTkShtp OF UtTtt yCufS w 't VU''' W " f
ticing attorney Of the Supreme Court, aver me age
Of II Years Rule The employing attorney shall file
certificate of the fact the office of the Clerk OF the
Court of Appeals when elerkship begins certineu
copy of be produced at the examination hue
S regulates cerSshps that have already begun Rule
relates to vacations. Rule Any portion of time, not
exceeding one year. actually spent in regular attendance
upon the law lectures in the University of New-Hork,
Cambridge University, the law school connected with
Yale College, law school connected with any college
or university OF this State having department in which
instruction in the science OF law is given shall be al
lowed in lieu Of an equal period of clerksp in the office
of practicing attorney in the Supreme Court. Rule
relates to lawyers from other States.
The complainant aforementioned writes halfcolumn
letter in opposition these rules, of which the following
brief abstract: clause in the judiciary acts of lSi7
never expressly repealed, says mo term of clerkshp
or period Of study shall be required" lie claims that
without direct words of repeal later law does not abro-
gate q former He continues thus: Perhaps the
dryness Of the subject far will be compensated by the
refreshing and delightful equity of these rules They
shut out large body of students, most of whom, as
usual had studied year more, and on the strength
OF the old rules preparing for the June examna-
ton They put the well-edueated man. who has spent
much time and money in laying broad and deep the
foundations Of success, level with an ofee-boy OF
common school education who, at IL chooses TO enter his
name as a clerk The who graduated from college
at % with increased powers OF gaining, arranging, and
assimlating knowledge must wait till %; the other can
practice at 2-tOO mature, fOrsOoth for mere clerk,
too crude for true lawyer This revives the old seven
years for those best fitted, class, to study law
and makes a three-yeaTs' rule for the rest. Nor
is this all The law spoken Of exempts Albany and
Columbia Law Schools which graduate their stu
dents respectively in So weeks and Is months"
He thinks that this result of "lobbysm, and since
no lawschOOl graduate has yet written has name beside
those greatest iursts of land thinks that
is not well TO force poor students into those schools
Again IL positively discOuTages college graduates from
studying law and keeps intended lawyers from going to
college by making liberal culture 20 for naught Few
will say there a surplus Of such men at the Bar fewer
still that il would not be well TO have more To their
relative is largely due the fact that the law
has fallen from noble profession TO mOney-making
trade / speak in no exclusive spirit. BY all means,
admit all who show competent knowledge OF law, OF
whatever else they ignorant. only say that II
years OF previous discipline any aid in mastering the
abstrusest of sciences; that If men thus trained
adorn and elevate the Bar, this thing should
not be. 1t is unwise well as unjust
Our clerk doing and Oahng through the Summers and
eossiping around the stove through the Winters has
somehow imbibed certain quantity Of legal lore, but of
very uncertain quality. He Grams up the last few
months and goes examination armed with certificates
But he finds no better safeguards against the poor
sticks; no sricer tests pinnOring than before
II all depends stn more on who the examiners that
term are and what they have had for dinner. time
rule alone with other to secure good prepare
ton is paper blockade against the embryo shys-
tiers and gnoramuses of the Bar This one keeps out the
ambitious and earnest student much longer than need
be- while it and does not compel those against
whom It especially aimed to become worthy candidates
for admission grant that il will do some good Per
haps any rule of restraint after the license of admission
OF recent years. would be better than nothing"
He suggests remedy for all these evils the prn
cpal being such strict examinations as VIII compel
students TO spend several years in study.
There Ia misrepresentation OF the new rules in
these statements Ordinary college study is certainly