Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-01-09
The Law School Stands at the Top.


The Law School Stands at the Top.
The work of the College of Law is
OF character of which the people Of
this state may we'll be proud. Those
who are in a position to kno~-who
have had an opportunity to compare it
with the work of other law schools
say that it is fully ABREAST of that done
in most of the law schools of the coun-
try, and ahead of many. It was feared
that the first year class might be rath-
er small than usual, this fall, owing
to the fact that the required work
necessary to secure the degree of
LIB. has been increased one-half;
that is, from two to three years. It is
gratifying to note, therefore, that in
stead of falling off, the ffrst-year
class shows an increase in numbers of
about SO per cent over that of last
year. This clearly indicates that the
young men and women of West Vir-
ginia appreciate the necessity of an
adequate period Of time for the study
of the law. and justifies the wisdom OF
the change. 1t is altogether probable
that the further change which will
take place next year, viz, requiring
those who are candidates for the de-
gree of LIB. to have one full year Of
college work in an approved college
or university, will meet a like ap-
prevail from the public. 1t Is certain
that, in taking this advanced step as
to entrance requirements, the College
of Law of West Virginia University is
placing itself in the foremost rank of
the leading American law schools.
There is absolutely no need of any res
ident of this state going outside his
own commonwealth to obtain first
class legal training; and from the
point of Developing the practical, work
ing side Of the law, few, if any, schools
offer so much or SO thorough a train
ing. Nor is the other side lost sight
of-careful, thorough instruction in
the fundamental, underlying principles
of our law; but both are carried on
with equal insistence, producing in the
graduates of this department body
of well-informed, practically-trained,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES lawyers. No
other law school can do more,
There seems to be a somewhat prev
alent idea, at least in some portions of
the state, that one can not receive an
adequate legal education in West Vir-
ginia, but must needs go outside-to
Washington and Lee, to Virginia Uni,
versity, to Harvard, and elsewhere
but such is far from the truth. For
instance, in one of the bar examind-
tions held within the past year grad
yates from Harvard and other law
schools took the same examination
as was given to others. There
was, of course, no discrimination;
the test was the same for all appli-
cants. ct the Harvard men wholly
failed to distinguish themselves with
exceptionally good records, nor did
those from other law schools outside
the state do any better. But it is
worthy of note that those applicants
whose training had been received
in whole or in part here, not only all
held their own in the matter of good
grades, but a number of them were
among those showing the most pro
fciency and best training in the law.
This does not prove, of course, that
the College OF Law of West Virginia
University is better than any other.
But it does show, very clearly. that it
is fully as efficient as any others, and
more so than many others.
Again has recognition, welLdeserved.
come to the College of Law, in the
merited and signal honor conferred
upon the dean of that college, in his
selection by the publishers of the
Forthcoming code of this state to do
| the work of annotating the various
acts of the legislature which will be
contained in the work II This work
which Dean Hogg has been chosen to
perform is one which requires careful
discrimination, as well as a broad and
comprehensive and accurate knowl-
edge Of the law. The bench and bar
of the state are to be congratulated
that this important part of the new
edition of the code is to be prepared
| by such able hands, and the people
generally are to be congratulated that
they have at the head of their College
of Law a man Of such manifest legal
attainments, and who has also demon
strated this ability as teacher of the