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AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS AND THE TEACHING OF LAW. BY GEORGE L. REINHARD, L L. D., Dean of the Indiana University School of Law. LAW schools and law school teachers have own school and his own methods are not doubtless something to learn from one very far behind those of others which are another. As remarked by a Harvard law counted among the best in the land. professor,—the knowledge of the science of It was with some such feelings as these that teaching law is not to be found in any one I determined last year to visit some of the particular law school. That we have in con principal law schools of the country, provided nection with the American Bar Association I could obtain their permission to do so. It 3. section of legal education and an associa gives me great pleasure to be able to state, tion of American Law Schools, is sufficient not only that I received favorable replies proof that at least we who are members of from the head of every law school to which the same fully recognize the truth of the I had directed a letter on the subject, but that above proposition. Many of us travel hun those I actually visited extended to me every dreds of miles every year and listen to papers opportunity and facility for such observation and oral discussions in the meetings of these and inspection as I felt inclined to make; organizations so that by the exchange of and that my stay at each of these institutions ideas we may become mutually better in was made pleasant and agreeable by the exstructed about the best way to conduct law tention of the most generous hospitalities. schools. But while these proceedings are My chief regret is that my duties at home doubtless of great value to those who witness did not permit me to include in my itinerary them, they do not, after all, offer opportu all of the schools I had intended to visit. As nities for observing and studying the it was, I could only remain away a sufficient methods applied in the different schools and time to see something of Harvard, Boston their effect upon the students or the charac University, Yale, Columbia and Pennsyl ter of the students themselves with regard to vania. previous preparation and other qualifications. One of the principal subjects in which I There are many things said and done in have been interested for some years, and other schools in which law is taught which which I may say engaged my special atten we do not hear and see m our own. Some tion at these schools, is the practical work of these may and some may not commend ing of the so-called case system in the teach themselves to our judgment; nor is it neces ing of law in law schools. sary that everything we meet with in prom inent schools should receive our unqualified At Harvard and Columbia, the case meth approval or be adopted in our own work. od is employed almost exclusively. Indeed, One may pick out that which impresses as is well known to the profession, the case him favorably, and carry it away with him, system originated in the Harvard Law if he chooses to do so. But even if he should School, it being first introduced there by conclude, after investigation, that he has not Professor Langdell about a third of a cen been introduced to much which is new to tury ago. In the Boston University, Yale him or better than that of which he is al and Pennsylvania law schools, it is employed ready in possession, it will be a source of only in connection with other methods, al some satisfaction, at least, to realize that his though some of the individual professors in
