New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27

oests An early training in the best traditions
of the profession will not only discourage such
tendencies in the individual, but will tend also
to create a general professional atmosphere in
which il will be too uncomfortable for the
guileful to live.
PREREQUISITES OF ADMISSION IN
NEW YORK AND MARYLAND.
"Since 1911 in New York our rules for the
admission of attorneys have prescribed
familiarity with the canons of the American
Bar Association as prerequisite. l know that
the bar examiners in Maryland have examined
upon ethical questions. do not know how lar
legal ethics constitute subject of exsmins-
ton in other states. But whether obligatory
for admission or not, it seems to me that the
law schools could do no better service to the
profession or the public than TO emphasize IN
their training the ethical traditions OF the bar.
Postgraduate clinics are taken up as fol-
lows:
at has been suggested also that 1t would
be profitable to law schools, bar and public to
have postgraduate clinics established more
widely than at present There is undoubtedly
a period in the career of the average lawyer
after his admission to the bar when he is not
very busily employed. There is no substan-
tal reason why he should not then pursue his
professional studies further under competent
guidance He is not then under the pressure
of preparing for specific examination tor ad-
mission TO the bar, and he can both attack
practical problems with such experience as he
has obtained and attempt broader culture in
his profession during this period"
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LAW
STUDENTS.
Quoting from the report of the Commission
err of Education of the United States for 1912,
Mr.. Boston showed that the number OF STU
dents in law schools had increased from 1853
in 1870 to 2o76o in 1912, and the number OF
graduates from ,0S9 in 1880 to 43e4 in 1912;
the students of law in 1912 numbered 2o,76O,
those Of medicine 1882, of theology 1922;
while in 1870 the students of theology were
twice as many as in law schools, and those in
medicine nearly four times as many
The figures for the year ended June 30, 1913,
showed the number of law schools increased
by six, to 124; the number of law students in
creased by 1lS, to 2O,S7S; the number OF grad
yates increased by thirty three, to 4,427, while
the number of theological students decreased
by 277, to 1926, and the number Of medical
students by 1914, to 1928.
ITO my mind" said Mr.. Boston, whether
trade or profession, it behooves law schools to
keep the law in the line of the public service
and prevent it from becoming disesteemed.
am aware that part of the loss of prestige
which has PROFESSIONALLY been suffered by the
profession has been due to a wider general
education, in virtue of which the average man
no longer stands in awe of the we'll educated
or specially trained man; but a part of the OPP
probrium results from the general belief that
the law and lawyers not only tolerate but cul-
tivate trickery, and a justifable moral con-
tempt lies at the bottom of the sentiment.
Let it once be universally known that law
yers are educated to scorn trickery and to la
Dor toward the achievement of moral as we'll
as legal right and they will win the genuine
popular respect-respect not for shrewdness
but for fairness-whch will more than repay
any effort to that end, and to my mind the
law schools can properly foster and educate
the spirit which will make for this end. The
suggestion is not think, Quixotic, but ex-
tremey practical"
Concluding, Mr. Boston called attention to
the stand taken by the Bar Association urging
the adoption of the following:
"A general education equivalent to high
school graduation as preliminary for admis-
sion to the bar (though the expression of this
view does lot admit the adequacy of such a
meagre preliminary education).
"A three-year course in all law schools.
-Four years study of law. as prerequisite
to admission to the bar, except of those candi-
dates who are graduates of three-year law
schools.
AN education equivalent to high school
graduation before candidacy for a dgree in a
law school.
mo degree in law from any correspondence
school.
mo admission to the bar by virtue of hold
ing diploma in law
- "A four-year course for all night schools"
In regard to the night schools, it may be
said here that representatives of reputable in
stitutions of that kind protested that a four
year course was an unjust requirement.
There was discussion on this subject before
the Section of Law Schools but no decision
was reached.