Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/134

 Examinations for the Bar. equivalent to that required ¿or gradua provided that no rule of the Supreme Court tion from an American high school, before requiring an applicant for admission to the entering upon the study of the law. The re bar to have received a diploma of gradua quirement is an entirely reasonable one. It tion or a certificate granted by a board of means after all only that a young man who school examiners, as a condition for ad proposes to apply himself at the age of 21 or mission to the bar, should affect or apply to 22 to an intellectual vocation should devote any person who had studied law during a himself up to that time in reasonable and period of three years prior to the passage of the act. The statute might have been en necessary preparation. The requirement for general éducation as titled appropriately an act to protect vested a condition of successful professional study, interests in illiteracy. The remarkable fea was happily stated by Blackstone a century ture of it was that our law had provided from the earliest times that applicants for admis and a half ago. "If the student in our laws hath formed sion to the bar should have a genera! educa both his sentiments and style by perusal and tion. The rule of the Supreme Court did imitation of the purest classical writers, not, therefore, impose a new condition. It among whom the historians and orators will sought only to enforce an old condition by best deserve his regard; if he can reason requiring specific and definite proof of com with precision, and separate argument from pliance therewith. But anything specific and fallacy, by the clear simple rules of pure un definite and certain is what those who pro sophisticated logic; if he can fix his atten pose to break into the profession by the tion, and steadily pursue truth through back door most abhor. Glittering generali the most intricate deduction, by the use of | ties is their delight. They are ready to pro mathematical demonstrations; if he has en duce general certificates, but they resent at larged his conceptions of nature and art, by tempts to compel them to tell when and how a view of the several branches of genuine and where they acquired their attainments experimental philosophy; if he has im or exactly what they are, or to submit their pressed on his mind the sound maxims of pretensions to test. the law of nature, the best and most authen Since the chief purpose of insisting upon tic foundation of human laws; if, lastly he preliminary general education is to insure a has contemplated those maxims reduced to certain degree of mental maturity and of ca a practical system in the laws of imperial pacity on the part of the student to take up Rome; if he has done this, or any part of it, | the study of law, his qualifications in that a student thus qualified may enter upon the respect ought to be ascertained and passed study of the law with incredible advantage upon before he is permitted to register as a and reputation." student of law. In law schools of recognized The resistance to even moderate require standing, it is made a condition of admis ments is illustrated by an act passed by the sion. In New York he is given a year after legislature of Ohio at its session next after registering as a student of law, to comply the adoption by the Supreme Court of a with the rule on the subject of general edu rule requiring candidates for admission to cation. the bar to produce a certificate of gradua The next most obvious and essential re tion from a high school, or of admission to quirement for admission to the bar, is that a college of approved standing, or of an ex the student shall study law for a certain amination upon the subjects required for period, which ought not to be less than three graduation from a high school. The act vears. The law cannot be mastered except