The Washington herald., 1913-09-15
OLDLAW SCHOOL
STARTSSESSION
George Washington Univer-
sity VIII Have Increased
Enrolment.
THREE DEGREES OFFERED
instruction Divided Into Substantive
and Adjective Classes-"Case"
System Used.

The George Washington University,
department of law, the oldest law school
in Washington, begins its forty ninth ses-
sion Wednesday. September a, with the
promise of an increased enrolment and
a most successful year.
II offers a three-year course, both fore
noon and afternoon, leading TO the LIB.
degree, and one year postgraduate
courses leading to the degrees of Master
OF Laws or Master of Patent Law.
The course Of instruction has two
aims in view. One aim is to train the
student so thoroughly in the fundamental
principles of the law, and in methods of
legal research and reasoning, as to give
him the best foundation for practice in
any Jurisdiction in the Union. The other
aim is TO teach the practical application
of legal principles in the actual admin
istration OF justice. To accomplish these
two purposes, the school has followed
the policy adopted by many of the lead
ing law schools of the country and has
divided its instruction into two classes,
substantive and, adjective.
Case" System Used.
The substantive law course. dealing
with the fundamental principles and the
ories of the law, are taught by the
ease" system, now used in all of the
leading law schools Of the country. This
system is the laboratory method of the
science Of the law. Under II the stu
dent goes to the very sources Of the law,
actually deciding cases, and by reading,
oigestinG and discussing them. begins in
law school. the work which as a prac-
ttioneT he will have TO do
At the same time he acquires a firm
Srasp of the fundamental principles and
the reasons for them. and learns to ap-
ply them to actual legal problems. The
old method of absorption by listening to
lectures and reading textbooks is sup
planted by the method of discussion and
rcasOning. in which the students take an
active part. II is the best method yet
devised by which to study the theories
Of the law and at the same time the
most practical method.
These substantive law courses are
taught by five law teachers. who give
their whole time TO the work of the law
school. and thus have opportunity for
careful research and preparation for
their classes and for personal conference
with the individual students.
The adjective law subjects. dealing
with the practical application of the
fundamental legal principles, include
pleading, evidence. brief making, prep
aration of legal instruments. and legal
tactics and ethics. These subjects are
vitalized and made concrete by the re-
quired work of the moot courts, in which |
cases are tried in strict compliance with |
the rules of court procedure. All of the |
work is under the personal direction of /
prominent members of the bar in active /
practice
BY this division of work the school
utilzes to the full the careful study
and research of professional law teach
ers and the invaluable practical expert
ence of men who are actively engaged in
the administration of justice.
The result of these methods Of teach
ing is seen in the remarkable success of
the graduates of the school in passing the
bar examinations of the District and of
other Jurisdictions and their success in
practice and in public life.
Member of Association.
The department Of law is the only law
school in Washington which is a member
OF the Association Of American Law
Schools. This association of the forty
three leading law schools of the country,
including such law schools as the Har-
ward. Columbia, Chicago. Wisconsin, and
Northwestern University Law Schools,
has for its purpose the advancement Of
standards of legal education. Eighty-one
per cent Of its members use the same
methods of instruction as are used at
George Washington. Each member has
to comply with certain standards of ad-
mission requirements, work and equip-
ment.
Work done in the George Washington
law School is given a maximum of credit
by the other members of the association. |