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University Of Richmond Bulletin: Catalog Of The T.C. Williams School Of Law For 1984-1986, University Of Richmond

Law School Catalogues

History:

The Law School was established as a department of Richmond College in 1870. In 1890 the family of the late T. C . Williams, who had been a devoted and valued Trustee, donated $25,000 as the nucleus of an endowment for the Law School. In recognition of this gift, the name of the School was changed to The T. C . Williams School of Law. At various times the School has received further generous gifts from members of the family of Mr. Williams. A substantial gift came through a bequest from Mr. T. C. Williams, Jr. who, like his …

The Virginia Bar, 1870-1900, William Hamilton Bryson

Law Faculty Publications

An essay on the Virginia bar from 1870 to 1900 rnust begin with a definition of a Virginia attorney-at-law. In 1870 and for the next twenty-five years, a Virginia lawyer was "any person" over the age of twenty-one of "honest demeanor" who had been examined for fitness and licensed to practice law by any two judges of Virginia courts of record. Having been licensed, each attorney must have then "qualified" to practice in each court in which he wished to appear. This was done by swearing in that court to demean himself honestly in the practice of law and to …