Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/140

 Examinations for the Bar. 97 lively unimportant. The standard which they declare and the purpose which they manifest become known and recognized and acquiesced in. It furnishes a mark for the law schools and in numberless other direc tions exerts a powerful influence for good. Xo other field of service to which a lawyer can be called affords better opportunity for usefulness. In this important work tincourts have the right to command the as sistance of men of learning and experience and discretion, whose professional standing is likely to secure the respect and support of the profession, from which will follow gen eral public support. Xo lawyer should feel at liberty to decline the call of the court to serve as bar examiner. I have said that the purpose of examina tions for the bar is to secure proper prepara tion on the part of those who propose to practise law- It is one of many means em ployed to accomplish that end, but it is a necessary means. It is the controlling pow er which the courts exercise to protect them selves and the State. We cannot rely wholly on law schools or on the motives which stimulate most men to prepare themselves for the highest service at the bar, for there are other men in great numbers who se?k to enter the profession with the lea.-t possible preparation, and unfortunately so-called law schools are organized in many communities to assist them to do so. These schools are a public evil and ought to be suppressed. The power lies with the courts. All that is necessary in States where standards of gen eral education and definite periods of study are prescribed is to enforce the regulations. That has been found sufficient to put them out of existence in some States, and in other States to prevent them from springing up. Their patrons have no use for them except as means of gaining admission to bar ex aminations under false pretenses, and if the courts were to reject their certificates they would perish for want of support. T do not

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mean, of course, to suggest that all schools whose standards are defective ought to be suppressed, for there are many conducted by men with laudable purposes and sincere mo tives whose standards are capable of im provement and are likely to be improved under proper encouragement and advice and supervision. But there are other schools organized for the express purpose of cir cumventing the law by issuing false certifi cates. I have before me the circular of a school which boldly announces that "shorter hours of business make it possible for the young man of today to employ his leisure moments in preparation for a life work of his own choice." This is doubtless intended and understood as an announcement that the school will supply its patrons with certifi cates that they have regularly and attentive ly studied law during a period of three years, which is the requirement of our statute, well knowing that during the whole of the period they have been engaged in other vocations, and have employed only their "leisure mo ments" in studying!av, and knowing, more over, that if the facts were stated in the cer tificate it would be worthless. There is no hope for schools of this sort. Their only in fluence is to degrade the bar by depressing ¡ts standards and lowering its moral tone. The struggle in which we are engaged is between those who, in the interest of the public, are endeavoring to make the admin istration of justice more efficient, and those who insist upon projecting their personal and selfish interests across the path of im provement. The outcome of the struggle is not doubtful. It requires only that we shall preach the gospel in season and out of sea son until the public come to see and know that the movement for a high standard for admission to the bar is not in the interest of any class, but to protect all classes against the cost and delay and suffering and mis chief in a thousand forms which an ignorant bench and bar mav inflict.