Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-09
Educating Lawyers.

"The lawyers know too much
complains q certain free verse poet,
only to be fatty contradicted by such
legal profession as Chief Justice Taft
and Elihu Root, who declared at a
recent gathering of state bar associa-
tions in Washington that they know
far too little. To correct what they
feel to be a deplorable condition. the
lawyers in this national conference
adopted a resolution recommending
that two years of general college
work be required of every applicant
for admission to the bar. This ac-
ton, the Scranton Times says, is
preliminary to a drive which will be
made in all state legislatures to Sc
cure the enactment of this provision
as a prerequisite to practicing law.
In this movement the state bar as
sociations will receive some support
from the editorial professions. but by
no means do all papers approve it.
There Is apparently we'll recog-
nized sentiment among both editors
and lawyers that the standards of
the bar need considerable elevating.
While restrictions have been placed
sions which deal intimately with the
affairs Of society, as well as with
many of the vocations of trade and
commerce." the Christian Science
Monitor points out that there is
striking and significant lack of these
the legal profession" and the bar
has, seemingly by common consent.
been regarded "as self-regulatory."
But there are convincing Indications
the Monitor continues, that this auto
matte censorship" is not automatic,
ease with which membership in the
bar is achieved and maintained, un-
der present rules and practices, does
not seem to make for that strict dis
cipline and regulation which the WELL
being of the general public demands"
Hence the bar associations propose
a revision OF those rules and prac-
tees
In advocating a college education
for lawyers Chief Justice Taft de-
clared that "if a man cannot secure
the preparation which an average
ma man should have to be a lawyer.
nue. of livelihood. We have all the
in a lawyer "is only less serious than
it is in physician" the Indianapolis
News feels, and 1t Is 'clear that
something must be done to raise
both the intellectual and moral
standards of the profession" To that
end the New York Post contends that
"the time should be FASTENED when
no one can become a lawyer who
does not have the knowledge of his
tory, literature and science implied
in two years of general college
quirements for a profession which is
already overcrowded, there will be
fewer recruits" the St. Joseph News
Press thinks, and even IL higher
standards fail to affect the number
of applicants, the Milwaukee Sentinel
efficiency and a better quality Of serv-
ice through wedding out incompe-
tents and barring insuhiciently pre-
pared candidates"
But if it is the ethical and not tho
educational standards with which the
the Pittsburgh. Sun is one of many
who think that the efficacy Of the
proposed reform is "open to 4ues-
tion," for certainly as great rascals
are graduated from colleges as are
produced outside Of institutional
Union comedies, ''to discourage the
multiplication Of poorly trained law
yers. but due consideration must be
given to the point that education and
q grasp of legal principles afford no
assurance Of that high character ana
scrupulous honor that must animate
the profession If it is properly to full
fill its mission" Indeed. the Repub-
lican of the same city goes so far as
to say that in institutinE this educa-
tional requirement as a condition OF
admission to the bar. the chief
weakness Of the legal profession
would not be reached, for that weak
ness is moral rather than intellec-
tual." and in the opinion of the paper
''the public whom they practice on