The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-06-12
The Law College of the West Virginia
University.
By DEAN JOHNSON.

The Law School of the West Vir.
ginia University was established in
1873, nineteen years ago, with Prof.
st. George T. Brooke the only law
professor. About ten years ago Prof.
Wiley was made Professor of Law,
and two years ago Judge Johnson was
added TO the faculty and made Dean.
The first law student graduated in
June, 1879. He is a successful lawyer
in Huntington, West Virginia. Since
then many law students have been
sent forth from the school, whose in
fiuence is felt in many states where
they have gone; but the influence is
most realized in our own beloved West
Virginia. They are filling positions
of trust in other states as well as In
our own; but in our own State they
have become great power in religion,
in education and politics. No conven-
tion of religious people is assembled
where they are not found; no assembly
conyenes to promote education in our
own State where they are absent: and
no political convention of either of
the great parties can now assemble in
our State whose controlling power does
not emanate from the graduates of the
Law College OF the West Virginia
University. This influence is con-
stantly increasing as the number of
her alumni grows. In 1879 there was
one graduate: in 1880, two; in 1881,
two; in 1882, two: in 1888, five: in
1884, five; in 1885, four; in 1886,
seven; in 1887, nine; in 1883, ten; in
1889, seven; in 1890, six: ia 1891,
eighteen; in 1892, twenty; in 1893.
thirteen; in 1894, twenty-three: in
1895. twenty-six: in 1896, thirty-nine;
and nearly fifty in 1897 will graduate.
The reasons for the largely increased
number this year are, the increase In
the school and the rigid rule which
hereafter requires two years study
here to graduate, or standing an ex-
animation at the commencement OF
the year in all the Junior studies and
being advanced TO the Senior class; OF
taking the whole course in one year,
and at the end standing rigid exam
ination In all the branches taught in
the school and making an average
grade of 8, on scale Of 10, which Is
certainly difficult task.
GROWTH OF THE SCHOOL.
The growth of the school has been
very rapid In 1894 there were regis
tered in the school foify-ttco: in 1895,
sixty-two; in 1896, ninety-two, and in
1897, one hundred and four. or this
number ninety were registered in the
Law College only, and fourteen from
the Academic Department took some
studies in the Law College.
We expect a larger school next year,
by reason of the change in our law by
the last Legislature, which leaves the
qualifications for admission to the bar
to our Supreme Court of Appeals,
whose signatures TO license TO prac-
tice law in this State will hereafter
be required.
They will make regulations for
study and it is believed that at least
two years study, either in an Office or
in a law school, will be required be-
fore the student is admitted to an
examination. Then the examination
will be very thorough and searching
before the student can expect to OBJ
tain his license. 1t has heretofore
been easy to obtain admission to the
bar in this State. If students failed
here to obtain their degree they had
no trouble to go before the judges and
be admitted. That will not be the
case hereafter.
Students OF law, therefore, would
rather come here and take The two
years course and obtain their degree,
which will admit them to the bar,
than to spend four years, it may be,
trying to prepare in law Office, and
then perhaps fail. The advantages
here are much greater, as they will
more and more realize. Therefore it
is expected that the LAW
College will greatly increase in
numbers from our own State. Because
of the change to a rigid two years
course before student can graduate,
subject to the exceptions above stated,
we will not have as many graduates
next year as this, but in after years
we viii have moro The school has
many students from our sister State OF
Pennsylvania. Now about one tenth
of the law school is from that State.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION.
onr method of Instruction amounts
to a daily and bonrlv drill Tbe Sin.
dent studios tho tevt tben boars thu
lecture on the text amnlifled and OK
nlainod and illustrated nv LEADING
dacisions and also Inv supposed casos
which tend To Ak the nrincinle in the
Students mind
A. tbe neyt lecture an that suhiect
tho stndonts arc subjected e. a 600 rob.
inc s.oniz,, on that subject and tbe
locturar invitas onestions ~ tba loo.
son and ,nowers tho questions or nro.
mounds v tho onestion 1o some othe,
stu1Innt He then after The ..o,,iz !,
advances IN his suhiact and 60 IN
Th;s is tbrea times The student has
haan over The main nrjncinles nf bis
srt,iact. tban .gain IL his rayieyy "a,
oxay,ina+ions n hos biu constant
ha -l Il dr;ll Ill hacarso ha Is in closes,
contact with hiS Instructors from Inc
c cor r. tba end Of The
80 : : - y
year
MOTT coohis'
trai,;no VII" VI tho st,dsnts II r. Is o IN