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The Green Bag.

advisable. It was the opinion of the com mittee to whom the question was referred, that, for the present at least, the period of instruction should extend through two years of nine months each, and that the course in law should in all respects be co-ordinate with the courses then existing in the University; and it was so determined by the Board. It should be said in this connection, however,

that steps have been taken looking to the extension of the course to three years, and that the necessary action to bring about such a result will un doubtedly be had in the near future. Another question that the Facultyfound satisfactorily solved was as to the require ments for admission to the school. It is, perhaps, unfortunate that the conditions in this country are such that a thorough col lege education cannot be made a prerequi site to the study of the law. We cannot, how ever, close our eyes FRANCIS M. to the fact that some of our most distin guished jurists and lawyers have attained their eminence without the preliminary training represented by an academic de gree. It seemed to the committee that it would be unjust, as well as unwise, not to recognize this fact in fixing the standard for admission at the opening of the school. It was therefore determined that applicants for admission must have a preliminary education at least equal to that required for registration as a student of law by the rules of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York. The requirement consists of a thorough knowl-

edge of arithmetic, English grammar, geography, orthography, American and Eng lish history, and English composition. This still remains the minimum standard; and all applicants for admission, except graduates of universities or colleges, graduates of reputable academies or high schools, and persons who have received the "law stu dents' certificate," issued by the Board of Regents of the Uni versity of the State of New York, who are admitted upon diplo ma or certificate, are required to pass a sat isfactory examination upon the subjects named. Although no law faculty in this country has as yet thought it just or wise to limit attendance to such only as have com pleted an undergradu ate course, yet several of the schools, Cornell among the number, are making earnest efforts to raise the standard for admis sion, and to attract students who have al BURDICK, ready taken a bacca laureate degree. It is the purpose of the Faculty at Cornell to add to the requirements in the near future at least an elementary knowledge of the Latin language, and to increase the stand ard from time to time as the state of educa tion in the territory from which they draw their students will warrant them in so doing. The questions that at the outset demanded the attention of the Faculty were as to the course of instruction and the methods to be followed. The first was easily settled. The elements of the law are essentially the same in all parts of the country, and the members