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COURSE OF STUDY.
The course is planned with a view to acquaint the student familiarly
and practically with the principles of his profession. Care is taken to
teach him to think for himself, and to rely upon reason and principle,
rather than upon memory; it being considered better that the student
follow principle to its legitimate conclusion, though this be at variance
with the decisions of the courts, than arrive at a faultless result by
the exercise of memory or by accident.
The instruction is as thorough as possible, and is given partly
through text-books and partly through lectures (on some subjects
with the addition of illustrative cases), with careful daily examinations
upon both. The daily quiz has long been a marked and, as
experience has proved, a most valuable feature of the system of
instruction. As cross-examination exposes error and develops truth,
so the daily quiz enables the instructor to discover and rectify misconceptions
of legal principles on the part of the student.
The course occupies two years. And since future professional success
depends upon complete mastery of elementary principles, it is not
advisable for the student to devote less time to preparation for practice,
even though he be not a candidate for graduation. 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."
In order to acquire such thorough knowledge of the elements
of the law, thought as well as reading is requisite; and, for the
purpose of thought, there must be time to digest as well as industry
to acquire. One can not expect to gorge himself with legal principles
proceed healthfully and beneficially, must accompany the reception of
knowledge.
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