Creighton Law School - a Private Institution in the Public Service

The Catholic Lawyer

Volume 4 Number 1 Volume 4, Winter 1958, Number 1 Article 9

Creighton Law School - A Private Institution in the Public Service

John E. North

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/tcl

Part of the Catholic Studies Commons

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Catholic Lawyer by an authorized editor of St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This is the seventh in a series of articles on Catholic Law Schools in A merica.

CREIGHTON LAW SCHOOL- A PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

JOHN E. NORTH*

C REIGHTON UNIVERSITY IS the fruition of a pioneer's dream. It began as an idea in the mind of Edward Creighton, industrious telegraph builder, whose "singing wire" linked the east and west coasts. When Edward Creighton and his brother John entered Omaha in 1856, they found it a rugged, unpromising village of 1800 inhabitants. In the following decade, the brothers were influential in the construction of telegraph lines, the establishment of an express business, the development of stock investments and the founding of substantial banking establishments. Edward Creighton's cherished plan to build an institution of higher learning in the city of Omaha was cut short by his death in 1874. However, his widow, Mary Lucretia Creighton, bequeathed the initial endowment that was to make Creighton University a reality. Classes were begun in the original Creighton College on September 2, 1878. Bishop O'Connor, who had been named trustee of the institution in Mrs. Creighton's will, invited the Jesuits, world famous order of teachers for four hundred years, to conduct classes. In 1879 Bishop O'Connor surrendered his trust to "The Creighton University," a Nebraska corporation, and the gift of the pioneers became irrevocably joined with the traditions of the Jesuits to provide Omaha with one of the finest Catholic universities in the Midwest. As the years rolled on and Omaha grew and flourished, John A. Creighton, Edward's younger brother, contributed a large portion of his fortune to the building of the University. In 1904, the School of Law was opened in temporary quarters provided by the School of Medicine, and was moved the following year to the Edward Creighton Institute. In September 1921, the School of Law moved to its present home, a modern three-story building on the main University campus. * LL.B. (1948), Creighton University; LL.M. (1949), Duke University. Profes- sor of Law, Creighton University School of Law. 4 CATHOLIC LAWYER, WINTER 1958

The Creighton University School of Law the idea of specialization in a particular has made every effort to keep faith with field. However, many specialized courses, its founders. Sound education for the legal such as Administrative Law, Estate Plan- profession should provide the student with ning, Natural Resources, International Law, thorough knowledge of fundamental legal Municipal Corporations, and Legal Ac- principles, and an counting, are available as electives. These understanding of courses are interwoven with basic courses the role of law in in Torts, Contracts, Crimes, Procedure, modern society. At Business Associations, and approximately Creighton the pro- twenty-five other related courses which gram and method form the traditional law school curriculum. of instruction are In compiling the eighty-two hours required designed to pre- for a degree, all students are required to pare the student take a two-hour course in Jurisprudence. to practice law From time to time the curriculum is re- wherever the viewed, and, when necessary, revised, to Anglo-American assure that the prescribed courses are kept

JOHN E. NORTH system of law pre- abreast of current developments in the legal vails. The case method of instruction is field and that the students are offered a followed and emphasized, particularly in legal education which is not only basically the first year, but each teacher is free to sound, but also practical. adapt it in such manner as will, in his Ninety per cent of the instruction is car- judgment, prove most effective. The funda- ried on by full-time educators. A small mental principles of law are illuminated by number of carefully selected practicing study of their origin, development and lawyers and judges augment the staff and function. As the student progresses from present courses in specialized fields. The his first to his third year, the impact of combined qualifications of the faculty re- legislation, administrative rules and orders, flect degrees from Harvard, Michigan, and, to a limited extent, the effects of Duke, Stanford, Catholic University, and closely related social sciences are inte- ten other leading colleges and universities grated with his growing knowledge of case located in various sections of the United law so that he may understand the broad States. In addition to their academic ac- meaning and direction of the law as a whole. complishments many of the faculty mem- Solution of hypothetical problems, draft- bers bring to their teaching duties a wealth ing of legal documents, preparation of writ- of practical experience obtained in private ten briefs and oral arguments supplement practice, government service and diverse classroom work in order to familiarize the business associations. Under the capable student with the skills through which a guidance of James A. Doyle, who has lawyer makes effective use of his legal been Dean of the School of Law for the knowledge. past ten years, the academic and experi- This balanced program embodies both ential skill of each faculty member has required and elective courses. Students been carefully channeled to produce the do not ordinarily undertake subjects with most effective results. With a faculty-stu- CREIGHTON LAW SCHOOL dent ratio of one to sixteen, there is dates seventy persons, the students have exceptional opportunity at Creighton for at their finger tips the statutes of key juris- individual instruction and counseling. dictions, digests and reports of every pub- Faculty efforts do not inure exclusively lished.decision in the United States, over to the benefit of the school. Creighton pro- eighty legal periodicals, up-to-date services fessors currently contribute to legal publi- in specialized fields such as Taxation, Labor cations throughout the nation, actively Law, Trade Regulations and Federal Pro- participate in local, state and national bar cedure, recognized authoritative treatises in every significant area of law, and one of the finest collections of English cases and ma- terials west of the Mississippi. The ade- quacy of the library not only aids, but encourages, active faculty and student re- search programs. The practical utility of this facility is evidenced by the number of practicing attorneys from Nebraska and neighboring states who constantly use it. The Student Bar Association was organ- ized during the spring of 1950 to make law students conscious of the obligations and opportunities existing for lawyers through bar association activities, to promote a con- sciousness of professional responsibility,

DEAN JAMES A. DOYLE and to provide a medium for the promo- tion of student activities generally. association activities and projects, super- To carry out its objectives since organiza- vise legal aid for indigent citizens, co- tion, the Association has been active, operate in continuing legal education for through its committees, in developing a practicing attorneys, and serve on legislative varied program of activities of interest committees designed to improve the admin- and value to students. The Association istration of justice. Each faculty member publishes its own newsletter bi-weekly, wholeheartedly devotes his efforts to help sponsors the annual Law Day in the spring, discharge the obligations which Creighton holds a reception each fall for the in- has assumed as a private institution in the coming freshmen, maintains its own stu- public service. dent lounge in the School of Law building, The library, laboratory of the law school, conducts a speech club, and throughout the consists of over 42,000 volumes. The stu- year brings prominent speakers before the dents have access not only to the minimum student body. essential publications found in an accredited The Student Bar Association ever strives law school, but also to a wealth of other to impress upon the students their obliga- material desirable for a well-rounded and tion to assume professional responsibility. complete legal education. In a modern Each year the Association awards a plaque reading room which adequately accommo- to the graduate recognized by the faculty 4 CATHOLIC LAWYER, WINTER 1958

Creighton University Law School Faculty. From left to right: Margaret Hall, Librarian, Lyle Strom, Robert Fisk, John E. North, Joseph D. Brock, Lee Bloomingdale, William Sternberg, Winsor C. Moore, Richard Kelley, and Dean James A. Doyle. Not pictured are Robert R. Troyer and Barton Kuhns.

for outstanding service to the School of Chapter and Delta Theta Phi by the Bryan Law during his course of study. All mem- Senate. Friendly rivalry between the two bers of the Student Bar Association also fraternities results in many well-planned enjoy the benefits of student membership professional and social activities during in the Nebraska State Bar Association. the year. The fraternities play an important In 1953, the Student Bar Association at role in producing well-rounded lawyers for Creighton was awarded a Certificate of the future. Recognition as the most outstanding mem- Appellate moot court arguments are con- ber of the American Law Student Associa- ducted in connection with the formal course tion. Certificates for outstanding achieve- in Appellate Procedure, which is required ments were also awarded for the years for all second-year students. Appellate 1952 and 1954. briefs are prepared on carefully selected Two national legal fraternities have ac- problems and oral arguments are presented tive chapters at Creighton. Phi Alpha Delta before practicing attorneys and judges. The is represented by the St. Thomas More three students who make the most effective CREIGHTON LAW SCHOOL presentation are selected to represent the furnish advice and assistance to persons School of Law the following year in the in the community who are financially un- National Moot Court Competition. able to afford legal aid. The office of the The national competition, in which clinic is located in the School of Law and is Creighton has participated since 1953, is generally supervised by members of the sponsored by the Association of the Bar faculty. Senior students interview the cli- of the City of New York. Last year Creigh- ents, investigate the facts, procure evidence, ton's team reached the national semi-finals and prepare all preliminary drafts of plead- before being eliminated. ings and other necessary legal instruments. The School of Law, in cooperation with The local bar associations provide at- the Omaha Bar Association and the Barris- torneys who direct and supervise all cases ters Club, conducts a legal aid clinic to in litigation. In this manner students acquire

Arguing before the Moot Court. 4 CATHOLic LAWYER, WINTER 1958

The Law School Library reading room.

valuable training in judicial administra- only those lawyers who are morally alert tion under the watchful eye of a prac- and who fully appreciate the impact of ticing attorney. But more important than morals upon the vitality and endurance of this practical training in dealing with clients the nation, are able to serve the truly best and with courts is the development of an interests of their clients and community. awareness that the profession is dedicated For this reason, the program of instruction to public service and that legal aid is the at Creighton Law School places strong heritage and right of every citizen, rich or emphasis upon the moral value of the legal poor. principles, rules, and policies found in the In Creighton's view, the perfection of various courses. Thus the student forms the legal training does not consist alone in a habit of testing past and prospective pat- ready command of man-made rules and terns of legal activity by the law of God, procedures. It demands also a mastery of thereby preparing himself to excel in his the principles of the divine, natural, and office of lawyer and citizen. This distinctive positive law, and their application to human aspect is the crown of legal education at law and its administration. Consequently, Creighton.