 | Catalogue of the University of Virginia |  |
XI.—SCHOOL OF LAW.
PROFESSOR JOHN B. MINOR.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, JAMES B. HOLCOMBE.
The Board of Visitors, anxious to enlarge the sphere of legal
instruction in the University, have appointed an Adjunct Professor
of Law, to whom is assigned the duty of teaching more extensively
than has hitherto been practicable, the subjects of Equity
and of Commercial Law.
The object will be to acquaint the student familiarly and practically
with the principles of his profession. With this view, instruction
(which is designed to be as thorough as possible) will
be given as heretofore, partly through text-books, and daily examinations
upon the subjects taught, partly by comments intended
to supply what is deficient, and explain what is obscure in the
text, and partly also by independent lectures.
A Moot-court is instituted in connection with the school, upon
a plan which experience has shewn to be well calculated to perfect
the student in the details of practice. Under the immediate
superintendence of the professors he is required to pronounce opinions
upon supposed cases; to devise and to institute remedies,
by suit or otherwise; to conduct suits at law and in chancery,
from their inception, through all their stages; to draw wills, conveyances
and other assurances; and, in short, to perform most of
the functions of a practising lawyer.
The school is divided into three classes, viz: the Junior class,
embracing such studies as are at once essential to the professional
student, and form a highly useful branch of general education;
the Intermediate class, which is occupied exclusively with the
theory and practice of law, as a profession, being adapted to the
elementary attainments beyond the most absolute necessity; and
the Senior class, in which efforts are made to impart a professional
cultivation as liberal as the growing wants of the country shall demand
or allow.
The degree of Bachelor of Laws is conferred upon those who,
upon examination, manifest a familiar acquaintance with the subjects
taught in all the classes; and to those who exhibit a competent
knowledge of International and Constitutional Law and of
the science of Government, a certificate of proficiency is awarded.
The course of study in the several classes is as follows:
Junior Class—Vattel's International Law, Lectures on Government,
Federalist, Madison's Report 1799, Blackstone's Commentaries.
Intermediate Class—Stephen on Pleading, Barton's Suit in
Equity, Lomax's Digest, Smith's Mercantile Law, Greenleaf's
Evidence, Holcombe's Equity.
Senior Class—Story's Equity, Chitty on Contracts, Lomax
on Executors, &c. , Byles on Bills and Notes.
The student is recommended to be provided with the following
books for reference, viz: Gordon's Digest of Laws of United
States, and Virginia Code of 1849.
All the books required can be procured at the book stores near
the University, on reasonable terms.
| Catalogue of the University of Virginia | |