The New York herald., 1876-02-08
LAW SCHOOLS.

PROFESSOR THEODORE W. DWIGHT ON THEIR
MISSION AND THE RESULTS THEY HAVE
ACHIEVED.
last night Columbia College Law School was crowded
with students past graduates and members OF the pro-
fession generally brought thither by the announce
ment that Professor Theodore w. Dwight would dehver
a lecture, in which he would institute comparison
between the educaons TO be obtained In omces ana
law sthools The Professors reputation for gracious
style and easy information delightful characterscs
In any teacher and indispensable to lecturer on A"I
brought to the lecture room motley crowd Oh "nnon
students who are now laborng in legal harness
In introducing the subject the Professor spoke OF
the remarks that have recently been made in pupr
prints and in private circles regarding the value Oh
law schools and their to the legal proesson
and said his proposition TO consider Inc "a''e'
and he did a duty 10 institution having Puo
lie privilege He proposed to vndicate the claims Oh
the institution TO the privilege and give sohd reasons
for its bestowment He spoke at some length OF the
difference between attorney and counsellor
Briefly sketcned the difference is that the attorney s
occupied with matters OF FORM counsellor with the
law itself or legal principles 1.-THE counsellor evidently
holds the superior Junction. said the Professor
at would that he should study the law
as a science well as practise II as an arr
He should become familiar with the wide domain OF
Jurisprudence be versed in general principles De ex
pert in legal definitions and possess mind trained 10
draw nice legal distinctions He should also have
a broad general culture, be acquainted WIN .ne
philosophy of general Jurisprudence, be familiar
philosophy, and with topics closeiy an@'eu W
he to pass all his life as an attorney, so vide
a culture though desirable, would not De essential,
since large portion oi an atVrney ynossble for law
yer Of any activity of mind and strength o, 70
be conented for any length 9 @e n,nuav sTiSng
emancipate himself from this narrow posiIon anu W
to the grade OF counsellor Inc Lrue sy1 ,n % him
| uAnldth thuccA
10 follow both branches of his multifarous duties WIN
honor himself and usefulness TO the public sssr.
at is lust this point that the law schools assers
their right to exist and claim full and ample recognl-
ton. Since the time when the law permitted person
by q single examination to become botn an attorney
and counsellor the courts established no means
whatever whereby he could obtain an education az
| counsellor They simply appointed committee 70
examine any male person Of the age Of twentyo onea
years who might present himself TO have his qualihca-
lions tested 1871 the Court Of Appeals by rule pro-
yided an imperfect method OF securing some APTITUDE
for of attorney by requiring an attendance
| which have any tendency TO make applicant for
legal honors a counsellor. The student can have little
f any personal attention from the lawyer In whose ofce
| he may be- and where clerks numerous scarcely
enjoys his personal acquaintance Matters in the oces
being in this state the law school is an indispensable
requisite complete training for the functions of
lawyer The advantages oflaw schools may be summed
| up follows:-
sThey give the student general and systematic out
line OF legal principles. They remove out OF the way
difficulties inherent in the subject from It's vast ex-
tent and its technical and scientific phraseology.
AS a consequence they tend TO produce clearness or
conception The StuuentS part 10 leau nun 10
funess and precision in expression They furnish for
him during his professional career supply or legal
rules which are so fixed in his memory that they
be continuously and confidently referred TO for illus
tratioD and basis for Deductions thus
making II unnecessary TO burden the memory with
specific They inspire hope, courage and enthu-
siasm in the students progressive acquaintance with
vast They make the student acquainted with
reports OF law cases. ancient well as modern, and
their comparative value. They inspire a desire for
commu nication and discussion with ones fellows They
tend TO prevent students from becoming nero technical
lawyers-stIcklers for form and critics Of syllables
and to inspire them with love for broad principles
and corresponding aversion to all mode however cur
rent, OF spending time and talents In begertng ana
abettng knavery.
ssWhen this education has been obtained II is
essary special education attorneys for
enough OF that kind OF training Is sure to be gathered
from experience litigation and actual business.
Principles before practice the true watchword This
fact is fully recognized in every other department OF
education but law. But when come 70 the greatest
science known among men, vast in its compre-
hensivencss, bewilderng its details. as COM
! plex and mutform n all relations
the affairs of human life, told that must aban
details before know anything of principles absorb
knowledge through the ends Of the fingers by dgent
quilldriving, and ultimately through all the weari-
someness and disgust engendered by false system Of
education struggle forward TO dim conception OF tho
order and beauty of a system OF knowledge. With all
due respect tho Supreme Court, in its exaltaon of
ofce study would nvert true methods, put back the
dial progress and would follow old and exploded
plan OF education. rejected tho Continent Of Europe
! and upheld in England by purblind conservatism,
| though even there totterinR TO It's fall"