University of Virginia Library

X.—SCHOOL OF LAW.

PROFESSOR JOHN B. MINOR.

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, JAMES P. HOLCOMBE.

The Board of Visiters, anxious to enlarge the sphere of legal
instruction therein, 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.

A course of lectures upon the civil law, and a detailed exposition
of the most important leading cases in Law, and in Equity,
will constitute, it is believed, a valuable addition to the system of
instruction heretofore pursued in this school.

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
occasions of those who have not time or inclination to push their
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' Digest, Smith's Mercantile Law, Greenleaf's
Evidence, Holcombe's Equity.

Senior Class: Story's Equity, Chitty on Contracts, Mitford's
Equity Pleadings, Lomax on Executors, &c. , Byles on Bills and
Notes, White and Tudor's Leading Cases, Smith's Leading
Cases, Lectures on Civil Law.

The student is recommended to be provided with the following
books for reference, viz: Gordon's Digest of Laws of U. States,
and Virginia Code of 1849.

All the books required can be procured at the book stores near
the University, on reasonable terms.