 | Catalogue of the University of Virginia |  |
X.—LAW.
PROFESSOR MINOR.
This school is arranged into two classes, Junior and Senior.
The Junior Class studies the Law of Nature and Nations, the
Science of Government, Constitutional Law, and the elementary
principles of Municipal Law.
The text-books used by it are Vattel's Law of Nations, the Federalist,
Madison's Report of 1799, and Blackstone's Commentaries;
in addition to which lectures are delivered on Government,
and on various topics of National and Constitutional Law, not
discussed in the text-books.
The subjects studied by the Senior Class are the Common and
Statute Law, the Principles of Equity, and Maritime and Commercial
Law.
The text-books in this class are: Coke upon Littleton, (Thomas'
edition,) Stephens on Pleading, Greenleaf on Evidence, Chitty
on Contracts, Smith's Mercantile Law, Matthews on Executors,
Holcomb's Equity Jurisprudence, Fonblanque's Equity, and Mitford's
Equity Pleading.
The student, for purposes of reference, should also be provided
with Gordon's Digest of the Laws of the U. S., and the Revised
Statutes of Virginia.
The design of this arrangement of the school into two classes,
is, in part, to embrace in the Junior Course those studies which
not only form an essential part of a liberal professional education,
but which, from their universal interest and importance, constitute
a highly useful branch of general education, whilst the Senior
Course is occupied exclusively with the study of the theory and
practice of Law, as a profession.
Students may attend either class or both, and those not wishing
to study Municipal Law at all, can enter for that portion of the
Junior Course which includes National Law, Government, and
Constitutional Law. Candidates for a degree are required to attend
both classes.
Comments are delivered by the Professor on the text-books of
both classes, the purpose of which is to supply what is deficient,
and explain what is obscure in the text, and to induce a thorough
practical comprehension of the subject under consideration. In
his observations on Municipal Law, the Professor refers to the
leading cases and authorities, American and English, which tend
to illustrate the topic in hand, and particularly explains, in its
appropriate connection, the Statute Law of Virginia, and of the
United States, and its effect on the preöxisting law. Each daily
lecture is preceded by an examination on that of the preceding
day, together with its text.
A moot-court is instituted in connection with the school, upon
a plan conforming minutely to the organization of the courts of
the country, the exercises of which are directed, under the immediate
superintendence of the Professor, with a view to familiarize
the student with the practical details of his profession. His opinion
is required on supposed cases; he is called upon 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
most of the functions devolving upon a practitioner of the
law.
Graduates in the school of Law, have the title of Bachelor of
Laws.
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