The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-25
LAWYERS AND THE COST OF LIy-
INC

ING.
That distinguished teacher of law,
William II. Vance, formerly member
of the law faculty of Washington and
Lee, and deun OF the George Washing
ton law school. and now professor
in the Yale law school, Will noxt year
become dean of the college of law in
the University of Minnesota. Already he
is proposing to the Legislature of Min
nesota that IL amend the law which
now admits law graduates to the bar
without an examination. 1t is the be-
lief OF this eminent man of law that
there are too many lawyers, and that
the aim of law schools should be
TO make better and not moro lawyers
With tho leaders in the profession, he
agrees that the test for lawyers should
be qualitative and not quantitative.
The movement has been steadily up
ward In this respect Many lawyers.
we are informed by the Des Moines
Register, ARE only firmly estubli shed"
in the practice of the law In Western
States who wero admitted by commit
tees of the local bar without searching
examination. II at ali. That great law
yers were produced by this loose system
is no longer advanced in its defense.
The conditions of admission every
where have gradually been streng III
encd. with the operation of tho pro-
fcssion.
The Register makes rather novel
argument in claiming an economic ct
feet for rigid requirements for entrance
into the legal profession. One of the
most serious phases of the problem OF
living at tho present is the increase in
non productive workers and the CORE
spending decrease in productive labor,
In tho last analysis" says the Min
neapolis Journal. this tendency comes
nearest to explaining the high cost OF
living. 1t Is we'll. therefore, to stop
tho economic waste of making too many
lawyers and doctors." Everybody
knows the significance OF tho back
homo" movement Secretary OF Agrl-
culture Wilson Is in II state of perpet-
ual protest because boys leave the farm
at the time when they should become
producers. To this diminution of farm
labor no attributes short supply OF
meat producing domestic animals. with
its Inevitable effect on living condi-
lions.
The Register thinks that It is pos
sible" that Professor Vance has propose
solution of the problem OF the high
cost OF living, because rigid entrance
requirements Will creuto a larger army
OF producers. The view is one in which
We cannot concur. AN attempt to force
certain class out OF u particular pro-
iession Will prove aboriive, unless II
DC IN tho case OF the medical profess
sion. where the extraordinary interest
OF public health Is invoked. However
reasonably nigh entrance requirements
are beneficial and justihable II they
servo 10 call to the attention OF youn,r
men In the sphere of productive acliy-
Ky the fact that preparation for eff.
"iehey IN any profession ls obtained
only after years OF study and patlen,
research. In SO far rs ths necessi,v
LOT high qualifications will warn ,ho
would-be lawyer that i, Ia no lazy
man procession which he would enter.
ana that II requires long preparation
and severe application, the Register is
Hsht. but the protective prohibitory
principle cannot be applied in ms
Ne9htrS Tor our brethren OF the bar
I