Evening star., 1931-05-05
ASK LAW SCHOOLS
TO TEACH ETHICS
U. S. Bar Committee Men
Pass New Requirement
for Students.

Despite strenuous opposition OF ap-
proximately all leading law schools the
Executive Committee OF the american
Bar Association today advocated that
a compulsory course in professional
ethics be made part of the curriculum
of all law schools and that examination
on this subject be required for adms-
sion to the bar in all States.
The committee convened here this
morning at the Mayf1ower Hotel and
will conclude its sessions late tomorrow
on the eve Of the annual meeting OF
the American Law Institute. Regis
tration of delegates to institute meeting
was under way today at the Maynower.
The committee, with Charles A. Bos-
ton of New York City, president OF tne
American Bar Association, presiding,
also notified the French Steamship Co.
that the associations name should not
be used in conjunction with the COM
pany's advertised European tour this
Summer for members OF the American
bar. In a resolution the steamship line
was informed that in no way has the
association approved the tour, which.
according to advertisements sent to its
members, promises among the chief at
fractions lecture course en- route.
Representative James M Beck of Penn
sylvania and other prominent lawyers
are listed by the company as speakers.
Favor Cooperation.
Better cooperation between the Bar
Association and the American Law In
stitute was urged in a resolution
adopted by the committee.
The fight for the adoption of COM
pulsory legal ethics course is of long
standing and in December, 1880, the
Executive Committee called a meeting
of representatives of all law schools
throughout the United States. Consid-
erable opposition developed at the meet
ing. attended by deans of Yale, Har-
ward, Northwestern, Illinois, Tulane and
other universities.
Committee members explained today
that after an investigation 1t was as
certatned that when law school had
such course that the percentage of
young lawyers graduating from this in
stitute, who committed unethical acts
had become negligible.
The schools contended they were
skeptical of the value of such a course;
that professional ethics were taught as
part of other courses and appeared
to have satisfactory results and that
such course would not aid materially
the standard of the schools.
Required Of Schools.
BY approving of the compulsory
course, each school will be required TO
adopt 1t, according to committee, or be
claSsed as not up to the standard re-
quired by the association. It was pointed
out that the association maintained an
offcial who investigates and reports to
the association the character and stand
ard Of each law institute. From these
reports, the association rates the schools
on its approved list.
Most Of the State bar associations,
according to committee members, have
approved the compulsory ethics exami-
nation.
Besides Mr.. Boston, other members of
the committee in attendance are John
H. Voorhees, of Sioux Falls, s. Oak;
william p. McCracken of Washington;
Jefferson Chandler of Los Angeles;
Thomas W. Davis Of Wilmington, N. c.;
Earl w. Evans, Wichita, Kans; William
B. Greenough of Providence, r. l.;
James R. Keaton of Oklahoma City,
Okla; Scott w. Lotion of Jacksonville,
Fla; Clarence Z. Martin of Martins
vile, w. Va Judge Orie Phillips of
Albuquerque, N, Mex; Bruce Sanborn-
OF st. Paul, MINI; Henry Upson Sims
Of Birmingham, Ala: Guy A. Thompson
of st. Louis, and Edgar B. Tolman,
editor in chief Of the associations jour-
nal, Of Chicago.