Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-05
DELAWARE PRACTICE TAUGHT
IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT OF
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLV WANNA

knowledge of the practice Of the
Delaware courts is branch of the law
which students and lawyers hitherto
have had to acquire in the best manner
they could. There is no work or treatise
upon the subject anu while msagre
references to practice may be found
here and there through the reports, the
larger part OF Delaware practice is
founded upon Gus tom, aud there 'ore is
unwritten law. Learning upon this
subject can, in a measure, be acquired
by diligent research through the State
Reports, but the mcst usual way for
the young lawyer to become familiar
with this important branch of the law
is to ask for and rely upon the advice
and suggestions OF older lawyers and
the clerks OF the courts.
The course on Delaware Practice in
the Department of Law OF the Uni.
versity OF Pennsylvania, which was
established last year, now gives to the
students who propose to pursue their
pro ression in the State of Delaware
complete instructions upon the manner
and method of Apply ing the learning
they acquire in other courses, and
equire them with the knowledge how
tc pursue the rights and complete the
remedies concerning which they know
their cases entitle them. The lectures
which ara delivered by Victor u.
Woolley, former proth onotary Of the
New Castle county, Del, courts, are
coloquial and treat of the method Of
bringing suit in the several forms of
action and carrying them through
pleading to trial, Judgment and
execution. Hypothetical cases are sug !.
gested. ana the students are required
to draw and file papers and make
motions in the same manner as papers
are drawn and filed and motions are
made in the courts of Delaware. Tho
meaning and effect of the rules, plend-
ings and motions are considered and
the lecturer then invites discussion
upon the legal effect and oonse 1ueuue
OF certain pleadings aud motions with
relation to the case on hand Ordinary
writs are handed to the members of the
class, ard accef ted forms Of mars
petitions, afildavits, bills and other
papers are given to the students for
present instruction and future use.
As there has always been a separate
course on the subject of common law
pleading Mt the University of Pennsyl-
vauia, only such pleading is taught in
Mr.. Wooliey's course as ia peculiar to
Delaware, where the old common law
pleading exists in its purity, and In the
| discussion OF both pleading ard prac.
tice, constant reference is made to the
State Reports and the Revised Code,
with the object Of enabling the student
TO know where to find the law
The method OF teach ng is to comr 81
| the students to institute and n cad
hypothetical actions in the same man.
ner and with the same care and caution
as in actual practice, and to this and
| Mr.. Wool.ey acts from time to time
towards the students in the capacity Of
clerk OF the court and Judge. Elk
perience shows that the students attend
we'll and by reason of the live nature
-of the law, seem interested in the
| course
They avail themselves of the oppcr,
tunity for the informal interviews with
the lecturer during the half hour before
the lecture begins, ard in this way any
points or matters that are not made
clear IN preceding lectures are reyiewet
and exp aimed.
The University of Pennsylvania an
nually draws from 30 to 50 students
from Delaware, and the number in
creases each year. The number O
students enrolled in the Law Depart
ment alone this tall ia T.
Several practicing attorneys and Law
students from Delaware, are takinf
this course &c Especial students, - moi
pursuing the regular law course n,
given by the University of Pennsyl
vania.