New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-03
OJyp I1IV SCHOOLS


preme Court of NowYOrk for their recent
efforts to establish a better standard OF legal
education. The cndcavor is in harmony with
the spirit of reform now abroad throughout
the land and is prompted by motives which
are independent and enlightened. The
Judges essay in their time and apprO-
pirate sphere of duty what the great Lord
Mansfield did in his day and Office. That
illustrious magistrate throughout life attrit-
uted much Importance to the proper instrnc-
ton of students of law, because this, he
thought advanced the public good; and con-
sdercd in common with other observers, that
attendance upon the Courts ia the absence oil
lectures and examinations affords the best OPP
portunity of acquiring professional knowledge.
If IL well known he had himself, when young
man, found a principal resource for gaining
experience in rcsOrting to Westminster Hall
and listening to the judgments of Lord Chief
Justice Raymond.
Doubtless Mr.. Justice Learned had similar
views in mind when he offered the resolution
unanimously adopted at tho late Convention
of Judges at Albany. The resolution provides
for requesting the Legislature to amend exist
ING statutes, so as to allow law schools only
an equal period fer the time spent in attend
ance at them upon the terms OF clcrkship pre-
scribed for other students by the Court of
Appeals and requires, besides, that graduates
of the schools, before they can apply for adj
mission to the bar, shall be examined i'll the
same manner AS other applicants.
1t is certainly matter for regret, if not for
some disappointment, that the Colleges OF Law
in New-Yor have not, in the Judgment Of
the Courts, justified the legislative Partially
which permitted them to bestOw upon stu
dents, after preparation comparatively brief
the degree of Bachelor of Laws and authorize
them to practice law. But opinion continues
to gain ground that these privileges have not
been pui to the best use in this State. The
degree has come to be altogether too common,
and, unhappily, little If any distinction
now attaches to it. In this city mob
Of young men is annually thrust into
the most arduous Of professions, when
their minds arc immature, and altogether
undisriplncd by any previous contact or
proper acquaintance with the life and duties
of the practical lawyer; and it will hardly be
denied that many who are unequal to manly
effort to meet the requirements of the Courts,
join classes in the schools in hope, If not with
the expectation, that they will thus find an
easier way to the bar.
When orr schools of law follow the example
40 creditab!y set them at Harvard, the Uni
yersity of Michigan and elsewhere; when the
large sums afforded by the attendance of hum
dreds on lectures in Ncw-York every Winter
are employed, as they ought to be, in adding
numerous instructors of learning and ability to
the very limited number we now have, and in
providing scholarships to support the mcr-
itorious who are INDECENT; when, for example,
the jurisdiction peculiar to the Federal Courts
in the complex structure of our government,
public law, and the comparative Jurisprudence
of foreign countries, the Roman civil law, the
law relating to shipping and the general mari
time law of nations and insurance, are
taught here with the same eminent success as
our own municipal law; and when suitable
examinations arc substituted for the oral,
which all experience now condemns as unsat-
isfactOry and unfair-Our law schools will
again command fyvrable legislation, because
they will then more fully deserve it.
When that time cOmes-and it il plainly the
duty of all who can do so to hasten tive
may hope to see from the best youth of the
country numbers enough added to the ranks
of the bar to invigOrate its spirit and perpetu-
ate its ancient glorics.