Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-12-03
ADMISSION TO THE BAR
Not so Easily Obtained as Formerly
III applicants Must be Examined by
The University Law Faculty.

AHt GHttSfStt1 LAW FACuktts
The current number of the West
/ Virginia Bar issued to-day has some
very pertinent remarks on the law re-
ferring to admissions to the profession.
Under the present law it is very diff
cult TO obtain certificate unless the
applicant is thoroughly qualified
Under the old law the applicant
was admitted to practice upon recon-
mendation, after examination, of any
three judges OF the state and while
some Of those who rank highest in
their profession today were thus adj
mitted, it very frequently happened
that judges from one cause and anoth-
ct would after only the most superb
cial examination recommend To prac-
tiee men IN many respects incapable.
The ease of entering thus rendered the
Bar oyercrowded with lawyers and
lowered the standard of its excellence.
The Bar Association of the State to
remedy this condition OF things and
to elevate its own standard prepared a
bill materially changing the method
Of admission and secured its passage
by the Legislature.
The new law passed, January 1897,
provides that all rules and regulations
for admission TO the Bar shall be made
by the Supreme Court of the state and
that licenses shall he issued by the
Supreme Court.
To carry out the provisions of this
law the Supreme Court in June, 1897
passed a rule that applicants after
reading law for two years must appear
before the law faculty OF the State
University and undergo such an ex-
animation as is required TO obtain a
diploma of graduation from the law
school of the State University; and If
upon such examination the applicant
shall be found to possess the requisite
qualifications the law faculty shall
grant written certificate thereof and
upon it the Supreme Court will grant
license to practice in the courts Of
this state.
The law faculty of the State Uni
yersity, consisting Of Judge Okey
Johnson, DR.. ST. George Il. Brooke,
and Prof VIM. p. Wiley, before
granting certificate require that the
applicant shall pass written examin-
alton upon each one of the following
subjects:
Contracts, Evidence, Trots, Com
mon Law Pleading, Agency, Insur-
ance, Partnership, Sales, Constitu-
tional Law, Corporation Law, Bail
ments, Negotiable Paper, Suretyship
and Guaranty, Real Property, Equity
Pleading, Equity Practice, Blackstone
Commentaries, Criminal Law, Grim
Procedure, Code Of West Virginia.
These examinations last three days
and are held in February, May, Aug
ust and November.
The questions are searching In their
character but fair and any one who
has thoroughly studied and under
stands the subjects can pass the ex-
aminations.
In order to obtain a certificate it is
necessary to pass successfully the ex-
animation in each one of the twenty
branches enumerated above but any
one failing in one or more branches
hidy du any ouDoCquCuU CAdlnludU iOh
take again the branches not passed
without having to take the entire ex-
animation second time.
The new law will doubtless aid ma
terially in eleyating the standard Of
the bar If allowed to remain in force.
Graduates of the law department. Of
the State University, now as former
ly are admitted to practice upon their
diplomas, the new law and rules of
the Supreme Court applying only TO
those who are not students at the
University.