Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/378

Rh periodical upon different law schools, it seems to be considered in some cases that no examinations were required at all, and in others that none worthy the name were required as a condition to graduation in law in this country a quarter of a century ago. While that may have been true in their own history, it has not been true at the Union College of Law. The Chicago "Daily Tribune" of Monday, July 1, 1861, announced the following:—

"The commencement exercises in the Law School this week will be as follows:—

"An examination of students on Constitutional Law, the Law of Nations and Real Estate, Monday, 9 o'clock

"Oratorical exercises, Monday, 3 o'clock

"Examination in Pleadings and Evidence, Tuesday, 9 o'clock

"Extemporaneous debate on the Constitution of the United States, Tuesday, 3 o'clock

"Examination in Contracts, Commercial Law, Equity, Criminal Law, Personal Rights, and Domestic Relations, Wednesday, 9 o'clock "

LYMAN TRUMBULL.

Such a list of subjects and the times assigned to each would assure an examination which would be a very good test of competency. How rigid those examinations were, appears in the same paper, of date July 1, 1862, where it is said,—

"The questions submitted to the students during the morning session were only upon National and International Law and Real Estate. . . . The intricate questions as to real estate were extremely well handled. In connection therewith, the various modes of holding property, from feudal days down to our own times, were closely examined and contrasted, and the peculiar relations of lessors, lessees, tenants for life, tenants at will, and the various modes of conveyancing, fully considered. The multitudinous questions arising out of wills, divorces, and the rights of husbands in the property of wives were next entered into. The subjects of dower and jointure were treated. . . . The afternoon session of the school was devoted to examination of the students on pleadings. Actions of assumpsit, replevin, covenant, trespass on the case, detinue, and tort were explained. In reference to trespass on the case, especially, there was a very lengthy questioning which resulted very satisfactorily, all the students seeming to be well posted in these matters. Actions of trover were then elucidated. Mortgages then came in for their share of attention. Their nature was explained, and the relative positions of mortgagor and mortgagee clearly defined. Redemption to be made and how effected by equity after the property had become irredeemable at Common Law. . . . Foreclosure, its nature and effects, and how sales of property were made under it,. . . were explained. . . . The exercises were exceedingly interesting, and manifested an unusual degree of proficiency."

Examinations upon other subjects were described with the same minuteness. From the quotations above, it appears that this school at that early day conducted examinations as a condition of graduation as thoroughly as is usual at the present time.

The students have access to the Law Library of the Law Institute, by permission of its managers. They have no need of any more library than they find there. Although