University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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to the strictly case study method. This method, in a modilied form, had been used for several years before by Professor Robbins, but it remained for .Professor Cook to formally inaugurate the pure system. It is used by him in all his classes. Professor XVilson still uses the combined lecture and text-book plan. Dean Pound is an advocate of the case system. Wfith the appearance of Dr. Pound as dean came two other noticeable changes for the better. For several years the quarters on the first floor had been inadequate for the needs of the rapidly growing school. This year the old chapel was remodeled, and the law school comfortably installed therein. The library, which in 1893 occupied a corner of the general library building, now numbers over four thousand reports and text-books, and promises to double itself in the next few years. Another radical change has been the installation of the present complicated system of practice courts for the old farce of Umoot courts. Under the present arrangement, a complete set of courts, presided over by student judges, ranging from the justice shopy' to the supreme court, has been inaugurated, and each student is required to try at least one case in each court. From gratuitous lectures by charitably minded lawyers, the system has changed to the regular academic form of paid instructors, who devote their entire time and attention to the law school. Qui' present faculty, consisting of Dean Pound, Professors Wfilson, Rob- bins, Cook, and Mr. Ledwith, is equal in ability to any set of in- structors in the middle iW'est and bids fair to place the College of Law of the University of Nebraska on a par with the great schools of the East. Their effect upon the students is marked. The old- time motto of work when you mustl' has given away to the newer one of work or Hunk. Last, but not least, is the effect of the Law School upon the state at large. In 1895, owing to its inliuence, the old system of admission by motion in the district court was changed to examina- tion by the Supreme Court, and in 1903 the term of study was increased to three years. These two acts have probably reduced over three-fourths the number of persons annually admitted to practice, with the consequent raising of the general standard of the legal profession in the state. The outlook at the present writing was never better. VV ith the few changes and adjustments yet to be made, the school will, 31

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NN. XV. Giffen, judge H. Broady, and judge XV. H. Hastings Qthe last two for one year onlyj were added to the corps of lec- turers, and the writer was appointed instructor. The school was brought back to the University campus, and the room in University Hall now occupied by Steward Dales assigned to its use, These quarters proving inadequate, the school Hlodgedi' the next year in room 16 in the same building, and upon the completion of the library building was allotted its present quarters. The course of study was simplified and so rearranged that each subject might, as far as possible, serve as a fitting preparation for the next. The subjects of remedial law were grouped in the second year. VV ith slight changes and some additions the course of study then adopted is still followed. Probably future changes will consist' in a more elaborate treatment of present topics rather than in sub- stantial additions to the curriculum. The method of instruction was changed. A modified form of the so-called text-book method was adopted and is still used. On some minor topics instruction is by lectures only. Some lecturers combine the lecture and text-book metho-ds. The writer has gen- erally combined the text-boolc and case study methods. The modern practice courts have been substituted for the ancient and well-nigh useless moot courts. Upon the reorganization of the school in 1893, a graduate course of instruction of one year was added, and in june, 1895, the master's degree was conferred upon seven candidates. For want of means to carry on the work properly, and because it was found practicable to give much of the same instruction in the under- graduate course, the graduate course was abandoned after the sec- ond year. W. S. Summers and B. P. Good were appointed special lec- turers in 1894, and Dr. I. L. Greene was appointed lecturer on medical jurisprudence in I8Q7.H The year of 1903-04 marked the beginning of a new period in the history of the College of Law. judge Reese resigned at the close of the school year, and Dr. Roscoe Pound was chosen as his suc- cessor. A series of changes occurred at this time. Largely owing to the efforts of Professors Robbins and Wil- son, the period of study for admission to the bar was lengthened to three years, with a resulting increase in the College of Law to the br 'b same length of time. The text-book system has gradually changed 30

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under its present leadership, take on a new life and a new indust1y 1' 1 'll wncl NV1 be but one more cause for us who are now leavino her to say with pride in our later f years, I am a graduate of the Col lege of Law of the University of Nebraska. ' Cl.-' i QWAS T47 2 Qi Q5 '3454- 6 f '41 S 4, . - -5. 4, s 2 X J .r r NX f- 'Wil 2 'wx 'X - . tk' . mi' 'A'-lLl:' Ii.: ' 1' BM' i E551 r . ' E ' X-E ' i bLf'F..Ui!I.b ' 'eil H- 1 F. -1!I'Ff' , .1 59 ig? ,bufgilgfw V 5 gl 1-e-If Q M, 53.1 ' if-Ea , !,'1f5if'5iLfleiR. 7 - , ' E ,.n,,y: gg. 4 Q: ?j , TE. 2 ' ,r,s,Lv9 U1EI..u'fF5r 32