The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-21
RErORM AyONG ENGLISH LAuyrB,


There are signs tlnt the old distinction
between barristcis mud attorneys in Englhn.
cannot long b" maintained II Is quito possible
that Lord Sclhorn.'s bill for the establishment,
OF u genera school Of law cannot I've rnssed IN
its presrnt shape against the viii oi the Inns q,
Court. bur there isa growing feeling in favor u
some analogous measure. Few pcrsons in TIM.
country are aware how much the statue 81 tho
so-'n.l"d lower branch of the prof. ssion has
improved Of hate In London. and the change
will be found worthy of attention bccausc il is
due to sweeping reforms In the system of legal
training.
Until within recent years scarcely any proof
of proficiency WIS eXHctcd Of candidntcs for
either wing Of tho legn profession The differ
ence in respect Of qualifications may be very
briefly stated. There WA no evidence and no
prerunlpticn that the student who alter eating
his dinners at one Of tho four Inns wns called
To tho bur knew anything Of law but
II WAS certain that h. bad received .,
fair classical education. On the other hand.
the artirrd clerk who was sworn in "a
an attorney after Ave years of Office attendance
could not he presumed to know anythins upon
any subject Any young man wishing 10 b. an
attorney WIS urti'i"d for I've Year., ~ pruct,.
TONER in that branch Of the law This period
was employed IN what was known rs "soeing
rrn'tc'.' which lnnv b. defined as a dillgent
study Of the shniy side oi the metropolis A:
the end nj his apprenticeship he made an nm.
davii that lac had faithfully served his master
during tho required term. and this do. ument
together with a certificate from the attorney ~
the same effect. was duly fled Tho applicant
then went hrfore Judge in Chambers, who
nsked his name and put query or two touch
Ing the weather and his wish To be- a LAWYER
Alter this interview fiat" was signed, and
the future attorney attending with u crowd OF
others before the Master OF the Rolls was
eoismny sworn in. This is the way in which
lnwyers were madc In England not longer ago
than tho first part OF the reign Of Victoria. Tn
der this regime We are not surprised to hear
uat the efficiency Of practising solicitors was
open 10 ucst.on. and that the one branch OF the
prof s. On wac often n mere vehicle for the
transmission to the other under the guiso Of
seeking "counsels opinion OF work which
clients might reasonably expect 10 be done at
first hand.
This state Of things has been revolutionizod
by series Of stntutos growing steadily moro
rigorous and comprehensive. The LEGISLATION
was demanded ty IA" attorneys themselves and
uhc'r aSsO 'lntlon. th- In -orpordted Law society
LOOKS 20 the strict eniorconentof It's rules Tho
nist step at IN. pros nj time Is IN pass q pre-
lminary exam nttion where besides some 49,
9uainian'e with mathcmWi,S h story. and
geography. m elementary .nowied,e of Latin
and at least ono Other foreign mnsuase Is 70.
quir"d. Tho youth. whose hso a. tho com.
mencoment 81 his apprenticeship is some six-
teen years. IS now nrtlcied 10 a solicitor: that il
&c say he enters the Office Of Il gentleman who
covenants Tor considerable sum OF money
TO teach and instruct" him In the prac-
~ ~
years. As matter OF fact no will do no.
thing but scrlyeners work for the Arst part
OF this period. but Inter h. c;lnnot well escape
becoming familiar w'h responsible duties.
That he should he qualified TO profit by these
opportunities through some knowledcc ri the
principles Of aw, iz ono n m OF the new system.
ror this purpose a !lrst legal examination
hEoWn as the Intermediate. has been provided
winch taxes place about the middle OF the term
81 service. Here the pupil must ovnce pro-
nniency IN the works named by the examiners
which treat upon equity, real property and the
law OF contracts The tests seem to be- quite
thorough. and IL is no specific objection 10 them
TINT. like university examinations, they mn,
sometimes he eynled by a process Of cramminc
We may add thru az the intermediate some ae.
dnninthncc VITA mercantile bookkeeping IL
'hird Tor. ana We need not point ont to prac-
Using lawyers the propricty OF tho cond ton
Al the expiration OF his Ave wears apprcn.
ticoship the ariclcd clerk eors IN for the
final ana We observe that distinctions nor.
rowtd from the customs OF IN, universitics OBJ
tain M this examination. Tor pace. convey.
0ninS. equity. and common law only need be
laS In. supplemented. NJ course. b, questions
IN pracuce and IL would soon that the knowl.
edge requisite is in the main. an amplincation
OF that oNactsd at the Intermediate. Tho nsri.
RAM Tor lunors. on the other hand must read
up additional Suhlccts-rrimInal law and bank
rupty. for iustanec-and There is no doubt that
10 attain this grade iars, amount OF honest
work Is nmessgry. ], r true that compnrativn.
y lew CLERKS take honors. and il Is also truetiat
700 largo proportion Of (slndilatAs some
og;hty per cent.-obtns certificates NJ tho
pass examination. With these deductions.
which repr sent tho friction to loo overcome by
n machinery. tho most nvnicnI harristor wil
not impugn the substantial gain accruins from
the new education Of solicitors.
II IL certain that tho re o.uia effort o, attor.
news to purgn thrif br,nrn Of the profession
from the r. proneh nj i.,noran .s and ineompe.
t"ncy has borne irult in changed tonper Of
tho pubic mind. 4 solicitor is now oitrn re-
ierla1 to IN the London press rs the learned
s'htlcman.' or as IL mon.lor OF "what WIS
formerly called" tho lower branch. Hero we
may note. among other significant innovations.
That the style 81 solicitor OF tho Supreme
Court has comfy boon introduced ani tho
lumlIiar attorney az law" virtually ubolshei
ny lr-;.ontlN enactment n there Is lust now
j - cnnor for olWl rights Of mud moo with
tho lar n ia" superior courts. i; would seem
To- be ho'duso shruwdurss h.s nret dictated tho
creot.on Of II" heme OF uniungwhich should
h'ow tnrm with ogual deserts Already mo