There is difference of opinion as to the merits of the three systems of legal teaching—or, better, of legal study. Under the lecture system the student first derives his knowledge at the lecture and from the lecturer; and the student very prob ably takes notes and ultimately answers questions as to his understanding of the instruction given. Under the text-book system the student primarily derives his knowledge at his own room and from the statements made by text-writers: and he goes to the leeture-room to be questioned on his recol lection and understanding of the statements in the text-books, and to receive more light from the instructor. Under the ease system the stu dent primarily derives his knowledge of law at his own room and through his own analysis of select reported eases: and after 'extracting from these eases the propositions of law necessarily in volved in the decisions—the Tallow's deridenili he goes to the lecture-room to state and discuss these eases and to participate in the solution of hypothetical problems based upon them. Under each system there may be statements- of law by the instructor, reading text-books, study cf re ported eases, and discussion of problems; hut notwithstanding the possibility that each system may be so treated as to seem like some other, and notwithstanding the personal peettliarities which cause each instructor to pursue to some extent a method of his own, the distinction be tween the several systems is in practice readily drawn, and each law school is commonly known, according to the system to which it is principally devoted, as a lecture school, a text-book school, or a case school, although some of them attempt to combine systems and thus are rather difficult of classification. The 100 schools in existence in 1900-01 appear to have been divisible thus: lec ture schools, 4; text-book schools, S2; case schools, 14.
The condition of the 100 schools existing in 1900-01 is further indicated by the following figures. The schools connected with universities numbered 71. There were 25 evening schools: and there were 5 with separate evening and day departments. the remaining 70 having day departments exclusively, although many gave all lectures either before or after the usual hours of legal business. The academic year generally lasted between 30 and 40 weeks; but in three in stances there was an academie year shorter than 30 weeks, The length of the course varied thus: one year. 7 schools: two years, 40: three years, 51 ; four years, 2, eaeh of these two being an evening school unable to demand full work front its members. The schools with courses shorter than three were almost exclusively in the South. Indiana, New York. and the northern part of the Pacific Coast. Of the 13.642 students. 2119 held degrees in arts or in science, and 3366 took the degree of T.L.B. in 190). The value of grounds and buildings was $1,S75.000. The en dowment funds amounted to $1,151,920. The in come from endowments and from tuition was $508,694. The volumes in the libraries num bered 338,167. Of the 1106 instructors, about 75 devoted themselves almost exclusively to teaching. Seven schools maintained legal peri odicals.
Closely connected with improvements in law schools is a recent advance in requirements for admission to the bar. There are now in as many as It) States examinations by commissions having jurisdiction throughout the State. In these
States, and in some others, written examinations are the rule. Examinations often include, in addition to definitions and classifications that have been substantially memorized. the solution of hypothetical problems resembling those aris ing in actual practice. The requirement of law study preparatory to admission to the examina tion is in as many as IS States three years. and in as many as 11 States two years. In about half of the States there is also a requirement of a high-school education.
Legal education is a frequent subject of dis cussion at meetings of law societies. The Ameri can Bar Association has a standing committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. and also a Section of Legal Education. In 1901 the Association of American Law Schools was founded, holding meetings at the same time and place as the American Bar Association.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Consult: Poste, Gaiits (Oxford. Bibliography. Consult: Poste, Gaiits (Oxford. 1871). pp. 122-124: Holland. institutes of Jus tinian (Oxford. 1881), pp. 25-32: Hunter, Roman (London. 1897). pp. 55. 79-80: Roby. Intro duction to the Digest (Cambridge. 1886). pp. 26 27: Sam, Institutes of Roman Lair (Oxford, 1901), pp. 9S-100. 130-141 ; Sayigny, Grsehichte des Romisehen ',Wilts, vol. iii. (Heidelberg, 1834), pp. 83-419, 613-718; Muther, Geschichte der Reehtsrissenschaft (Jena, 18761: Compayr, AbRard and the Origin and Early History of Universities (New York. 1893). pp. 214-239; Eashdall, Universities of Europe in the Middle Ages (Oxford. 1895) : Hart. German Universities New York. 1874) ; Conrad. German Universities (Glasgow, 185.5), pp. 124-141: Lexis, Die rniversitaten, yon, i. (Berlin. 1893), IT. 279-120: Akademisehes Taschenbuch fiir Juristen (Berlin. published semi-ammally) ; .Tones. Ilistoru of the French Bar(London, 1885) : Le lirret de lYtudiani de Paris (Paris, published annually) ; .1 nnuaire dr l'instruetion (Paris); Forteseuc. D. Landibus Anglia' (Lon don, 177.5), ehs. Waterhous, Fortes eat us Illustrutus (London, 16631, pp. 539-546: Dugdale, Origines Juridirales (London. 1671). pp. 159-160; Pearce. Guide to the Inns of Court (London. 1855); Smith, History of Education for the English Bar (London, 1860) ; Gibson and Chnekerbinty. Hoy to Become a Barrister (Lon don. 1902) : Calr»dars of the niii,r,ifirg of Ox ford. rot/a/ridge. London, Dublin. Edinburgh, and Glasgow: Report to the House of Commons from the Select Committee on Legal Education (Lon don. 1846); Parliamentary Report of the Com missioners to Inquire into the Arra»g(mcnts in the Inns of Court and Inns of Chancery for Pro moting the Study of the Lair (London. 185.5) : Parliamentary Report of the Commissioners to Consider the Proposed Gresham rni•e•sit in. London (London. 1894): The Green Bag (Bos ton. published monthly). especially historical articles in vole. i.-iii.: Reports of the .4 mei-jean Bar Association (Philadelphia, published annu ally). especially the volume for 1891; Reports of the commissioner of Education of the United States (Washington, published annually), cially the volume tot' 1s90-91, pp. 376-563. and the bibliography on pp. 565-578; •ones's index to Legal Periodicals (Boston, 1885-89), title Legal Education.