Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/35

had been at the Harvard Law School a young I school at least two full years as candi student from New Boston, N. H., of indomi dates for a degree and have passed exam table will, of untiring industry, and of a inations in the studies for the three years. strong legal mind, who assisted Professor The course of study itself has been greatly Parsons in his work on the " Law of Con changed and enlarged. The amount of in tracts," and acted for some time as libra struction given in the school previously to rian of the school. They remembered that 1870 appears not to have exceeded ten exer their fellow-student had occupied himself cises a week. Although the course actually much with the proper methods of study; covered two years, half of the course only they had regarded him then as something was given at the school each year, so that it like a genius in the law; and when they heard was purely a matter of chance whether the that Mr. Langdell had been chosen Dane student began his studies with one or the Professor, they did not share the anxious other set of subjects. This arrangement concern which other friends of the school doubtless proceeded upon the theory that expressed at the appointment of a man com "there is neither beginning nor end to the law, neither fundamental principle nor nat paratively unknown. As soon as Professor Langdell assumed ural development." But with such a theory his new duties, changes were suggested in the new Faculty most thoroughly disagreed. the requisites for admission and for gradua They believed that the law was a science, tion, and in the methods, order, and qual and should be studied as such. And so ity of instruction, which being eventually throughout the three years' course of study approved by the Faculty completely revolu the subjects are arranged with reference tionized the school. Prior to 1875, no ex to their fundamental character. The total amination or particular course of previous number of exercises each week is now thirtystudy was prescribed as necessary to entitle five. The following is the course of instrucone to admission to the school. As a result ( tion for the year 1888- 1889 : — the classes contained many students whose training had not been sufficient to enable 1 First Year. them to profit by the instruction given. In Contracts. Professor Keener. Three hours a that year requisites for admission were first week. Langdell's Cases on Contracts. prescribed, and since then no person other Property. Professor Cray. Two hours a week. than a graduate of a college has been ad Cray's Cases on Property. mitted without passing a written examination Torts. Mr. Schofield. Two hours a week. in Latin or French and in Blackstone's Com Ames's Cases on Torts. mentaries. Persons not candidates for a Civil Procedure at Common Law. Professor Ames. One hour a week. Ames's Cases on Pleading. degree, called special students, are still per Criminal Law and Procedure.1 Mr. Chaplin. mitted to attend the school without examina One hour a week. tion. Likewise, prior to 1875, any person who had for three terms or eighteen months Second Year. been enrolled as a member of the school was entitled to a degree without having necessa Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes. Profes rily attended a lecture or passed an exam sor Ames. Two hours a week. Ames's Cases ination. Under the new administration the on Bills and Notes. regular period of residence for the degree of Contracts. Professor Keener. Two hours a week. Keener's Cases on Quasi-Contracts. Bachelor of Laws was first lengthened to two years, and subsequently a third year course Evidence.1 Professor Thayer. Two hours a week. was added. Now this degree is conferred only upon students who have been in the 1 No text-book.