New-York tribune., 1876-02-09
LEGAL EDUCAIION.

PROF. pwIGHr's ADDRESS BEFORE THE BAR Assoc-
The state Bar Association held its regular
meeting evening ter the Transaction OF ordinary
busines, and the election Of several new members the
Association passed resolution that the entrance OF
the Judges In General Term of either 81 the
higher Courts tho members Of tho bar
should rise and stand until the Judges are seated
Lewis L. Deaeid called mp the report OF the Commit
m on Admissions Bar tie substance Of which has
been already printed. and moved the adoption of the
resolution appended TO IT, the important point IN which
Is that the graduates Of law schools shall pass an addi'
tional year In u lawyers Office before admission
TO practice. Prof Theodore w. Dwight then
made long address. II covered much OF the same
ground A. his lecture reported already In THE TRIBUNE
lie called attention to the essential distinction between
the Offices OF attorney aud counselor the former being
devoted to matters Of practice the latter to the princi
pies law In 1876 the preparation for both In this
state was made the same. The Court Of Appeals re-
qured three years In lawyer office where nothing hut
practice was learned. The law school taught the piln
cipes from which practice flowed. The point mad been
made in the report that the professors could not be
trusted because they interested III the ices. lie
ashamed Ia stand M and answer sllch a charge
made by fye reputable wyes. He thought he had lived
long enough in the community had d.ne TOO much M ui
Association In the Committee Of seventy. and elsewhere
speak Of his service In the highest court OF the
some length ths system of examinations in Co
um. ia College. and contrasted 1t with the exam
the applicant had the choice of lG different cIamnations
permanent Board OF Examiners was out OF tho iurs-
ton II must for the whole State. or inequalities
In severity between districts would arise No lawyers
would bear the burden Ia the Columbia College prize
examlnao only - competed for the prizes. yet no
committee OF lawyers had been found willing To
serve IA examiners twice What would II be
when 300 bad be examined 10 times In the
yeari experience had shown that
the Law School examinations were not perfunctory Al
the last examination of students described ~ unusually
severe the examiners had used his printed questions Ia
contestants for prizes, simply striking out tue hard
questions. Yet similar questions were put by the iboli
sand In his ordinary examination. Admitting ihat per
manent Board of Examiners could De obtained, SIM
they were not good Judge. az Tie professors
familiar with the work and mind Of the student
A bunder through bashfulncss was IA bad to tn III as
through ignorance. Tho man with more brass ana
readiness stood the better chance. lf they added one
OF Office work the two years or college work tty
might as well close their doors. College graduates
might get through with two years of Office work Or
they would he drawn from the school ana lis tone
aud usefulness would rapidly be destroyed lie himself
loved his work. he took pride IN the advance
ment OF the bar. The Columbia Law school had
led the way In requiring preliminary examination
showing some classical attainncnts Tho Yale ana iaf
ward Law Schools had followed. Chic. Justice thurch
and judge had refused 10 aid him IN mpolng any
such condition Office study. III the Bar Association
could point out better mode Of education ne would
cheerfully submit He appealed To them, however not
break down the reyiyng tone of the bar ny placing
mere practice above principle but rather To encourage
the teaching Of principles first ON Monday next thefe
will be further discussion OF tho subject.