Law Department 1857-1881
(A course description from 1857):The course of instruction in Law includes the thorough and careful study of the most approved text books. Among these are Blackstone's and Kent's Commentaries, Parsons on Contracts, Cruise's Digest of the Law of Real Estate, Greenleaf on Evidence, Vol. I, and the Code of Procedure.
The great object aimed at is to store the mind of the student with the fundamental principle of the Law. This is to be accomplished in such a way that he can give at any time a full and accurate expression of legal rules. The text books are to be so mastered that any question may be answered readily and with exactness. Reviews of previous exercises are often repeated, until the student becomes as familiar with the rudiments of laws as with the rudiments of a language. At each exercise, every student is examined on the subject studied, and expected to give the results of the text in his own words.
The Professor connects oral and familiar lectures with each recitation, putting cases to the class involving the principles of the text, and requiring a solution, and endeavoring in every manner which may suggest itself, to quicken and interest the student by exciting his own mind to continual action. Instead of the fitful and intermittent studies of the law office, pursued often in confusion and amidst other circumstances tending to distract the mind, the student studies law as he does any other science, with a systematic purpose and plan. Experience has proved by its unfailing tests, that on such a basis, underlying the superstructure of a careful practice, sound and accurate lawyers will be formed.
Particular attention is given to the study of the law of real estate. At each exercise one or more of the students is required to examine points of law, and read before the class and essay, setting forth some legal principle and the authorizes sustaining it, and also, from time to time to prepare various conveyances, as well as the legal papers used in the progress of a suit.
Moot Courts are held once a week, in which the case is furnished by the Professor, and heard before his as a Judge.
Any person of good moral character, who complies with the rules of the department, may join the class. The prescribed course of study for College graduates is one year; for those not graduated, one year and one-third. After having passed the regular course of study, and the examination prescribed by the rules of the College,the student is entitled to the degree of Bachelor of Laws. No other examination is necessary for admission to the Bar. By the Laws of 1855, chapt.. 310, every graduate of the Law School is entitled to a certificate to practice as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court. The terms of tuition are $20 per term, or $60 per year, with a graduation fee of $5.
Students who do not wish to graduate can remain any number of terms which they may choose, or study any one of the subjects embraced in the course. The order of studies in the principal subjects is: the Law of Contracts in the fall term; of Real Estate in the winter term; and Real Estate completed, Evidence, &c., in the spring term.
Maynard-Knox Law School 1881-1887
(a course description from 1881):The course of instruction in Law includes the thorough and careful study of the most approved text-books. Among these are Blackstone's and Kent's Commentaries, parsons on Contracts, Washburn's Law of Real Estate, Greenleaf on Evidence, vol. 1st, and the Code of Procedure.
The great object aimed at is to store the mind of the student with the fundamental principles of the law. This is to be accomplished in such a way that he can give, at any time, a full and accurate expression of legal rules. The text-books are to be so mastered that any question may be answered readily and with exactness. Reviews of previous exercises are often repeated, until the student becomes as familiar with the rudiments of Law as with the rudiments of a language. At each exercise every student is examined on the subject studied, and expected to give the result of the text in his own words.
The professor connects oral and familiar lectures with each recitation, putting cases to the class, involving the principles of the text, and requiring a solution; and endeavoring in every manner which may suggest itself to quicken and interest the student by exciting his mind to continued action. Instead of the fitful and intermittent studies of the law office, pursued often in confusion and amidst other circumstances tending to distract the mind, the student studies law as he does any other science, with a systematic purpose and plan. Experience has proved by its unfailing tests, that on such a basis, underlying the superstructure of a careful practice, sound and accurate lawyers will be formed.
Any person of good moral character who complies with the rules of the department, may join the class. After having passes the regular course of study, and the examination prescribed by the rules of the College, the student is entitled to the degree of Bachelor of Laws. The terms of tuition are $20 per term, or $60 per year, with a graduation fee of $5.
Students who do not wish to graduate, can remain any number of terms as they may choose, or study any one of the subjects embraced in the course. The order of studies in the principal subjects is the Law of Contracts, in the Fall term; of Real Estate and Evidence, in the Winder term; the New York Code, in the spring term.
Statutes of the Maynard Knox Law School:
First. The course of study necessary for candidacy for the degree of Bachelor of Laws shall embrace the rights of persons, including the domestic relations, and the law of corporations, contracts, real estate, torts, equity jurisprudence, evidence, and practice.
Second. The term of attendance for the degree shall be two collegiate years, and the terms shall correspond with the terms of the academic year. Students in the academic department pursuing law in the regular course, or as a special study, shall not be regarded as a member of the Law school.
Third. Students not being members of the academic department who attend for a period less than the full time herein required, shall not Reeves Diploma, but an official certificate, signed by the Professor of Law and the chairman of the Law Committee, stating the time passed in the Law School and the subjects pursued.
Fourth. Attendance within the meaning of these rules shall be actual. When the student enters the Law School, his name shall be entered with his age and date of entry in a suitable book to be provided by the Treasures. There shall be exercises at least four times a week, and students shall not be excused from attendance except for such special grounds as are recognized in the academic department.
Fifth. The College will not make any application for the admission of students to the Bar by reason of any acts of the legislature applicable to that subject until the Degree of Bachelor of Laws has been conferred upon the applicant by vote of the Trustees, except that if the time of prescribed study expires with the Trustees are not in session, the Committee on the Law School shall have power to order the Degree after due examination, and this shall be equivalent to the Degree conferred by the usual vote of the Trustees. In this case the Committee shall report to the Secretary the names of the persons upon whom the Degree has been conferred by their order.
Sixth. The Professor in charge of the Law School shall recommend candidates for the Degree, stating at the time their full names, time of actual attendance, and studies pursued, and character of the examination passed by each, and no Degree shall be conferred without this report. The Examining Committee shall be Appointed by the Law Professor, with the approval of the Law Committee.
Seventh. These rules shall apply to all students who enter the Law School after these rules go into effect, and shall be published in the annual College Catalog.
Eighth. All expenses necessarily incurred in connections with the Law School shall be deducted from the tuition fees, and the residue divided according to existing regulations.