For Wesley Sturges: On the Teaching and Study of Law

Abstract

During the academic year 1941-1942, toward the end of the fall term, several second and third year students, of whom I was one, conceived the odd idea that our legal education would not be complete without a course in the common law forms of action. This antiquarian project afforded us, no doubt, a pleasant distraction from the great and terrible events which threatened to overwhelm us. But the official schedule of courses and seminars was of no help to us. Then, as now, the common law forms of action did not make the grade in the forward- looking Yale curriculum.