University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF EQUITY, MERCANTILE AND INTERNATIONAL,
CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL LAW, AND GOVERNMENT.

Prof. S. O. Southall, LL. D.

Junior Class.—Vattel's International Law, with lectures, Lectures on Government,
Federalist.

Senior Class.—Smith's Mercantile Law; Greenleaf's Evidence; Adams' Equity,
with Lectures. For reference, Stephen's Digest of the Law of Evidence.

In the Department of Law, the degree of Bachelor of Law is conferred
upon those who, upon examination conducted in writing, manifest
an intimate acquaintance with the subjects taught in ALL THE CLASSES;
and to those who, upon like examination, exhibit a competent knowledge
of International and Constitutional Law, and of the Science of
Government, a Certificate of Proficiency is awarded.

In order to obtain the degree, the whole of the foregoing course must
be completed HERE, no preliminary examination being had upon entering.

The course is designed for two sessions, and in general it is not prudent
to devote less to it; the future professional success of the student
depending much upon his full mastery of it. It is a maxim sanctioned
by long and wide experience, that "he who is not a good lawyer when
he comes to the bar, will seldom be a good one afterwards." And in
order to such thorough acquaintance with the elements of the law,
thought is requisite as well as reading; and for the purpose of thought,
there must be TIME to digest, as well as INDUSTRY to acquire. One cannot
expect to gorge himself with law, as a boa constrictor does with masses
of food, and then digest it afterwards; the process of assimilation must
go on, if it is to proceed healthfully and beneficially, at the same time
with the reception of the knowledge. So the athlete judges, who wishes
to train the physical man to the most vigorous development, and the
intellectual athlete cannot do better than imitate the example.

But whilst the student is advised, as a general rule, to avoid the attempt
to complete the course in a single session, yet, if he chooses to
essay it (as some do successfully), he is admitted to stand the graduating
examinations, and if he attains the standard required, he is entitled to
his degree.

The expenses of a Law student, as appears from page 61 of this Catalogue,
amount to about $312 to $339 for a session of nine months,
commencing 1st October; or in the boarding club to about $287.50 per
session.