History
History of UF Law: First 50 Years
First 50 | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000-
THE FIRST DECADE: 1909 - 1919
September 29, 1909 the College of Law opened with two full-time faculty members: Albert J. Farrah, serving as the new Dean (formerly Dean at Stetson) and Harry W. Trusler (formerly Professor at Stetson), and four Special Lecturers: Judge Horatio Davis, Judge Thomas M. Shackleford, Col. W. W. Hampton, and Col. William E. Baker.
The College occupied two unplastered rooms on the third floor of Thomas Hall, which accommodated thirty-eight men and a library of 2,481 volumes. Two years of high school were required for admission and law school was a two-year course.
Costs were: dormitory room $l.00/month, plus $1.40 extra for lights and heat; meals $12.50/month. Tuition, room and board (everything except heat and laundry) was $165/year.
1910
Three law students, who transferred from Stetson University, were the first students to graduate from the new University of Florida College of Law.
William Kixmiller was appointed as Assistant Professor of Law and Judge Horatio Davis appointed Lecturer.
1911
Admission requirements remained the same but students notified that their requirements would be increased during the next two years.
Sixteen students graduated in 1911.
The Legislature appropriated $1,000 for the purchase of new books for the Law Library.
1912
Dean Thomas W. Hughes replaced Albert J. Farrah, who accepted the deanship at the University of Alabama. By this time the law school outgrew the space in Thomas Hall and was assigned rooms in Language Hall, but these were inadequate.
1913
Construction began on a new building for the law school.
1914
The building was completed in time for fall classes, at a cost of $24,000, and accepted on November 8th. Renamed Bryan Hall at a later date.
Admission requirements were raised from three years of high school to four years.
Students organized the John Marshall Debating Society, named after the distinguished Southern jurist. This organization provided an opportunity to develop excellence in speaking which continues today.
1915
Professor Harry W. Trusler, age 33, was appointed Dean when Thomas W. Hughes left to become Dean at Washburn University.
1917
The faculty adopted a three-year law course.
The College was accredited by the New York Board of Regents.
Figures reported in the American Law School Review indicate that there was a 50% reduction in the UF Law School enrollment, indicating the effect of the War on attendance.
1918
The library increased in size to 4,548 volumes.
1919
Fall enrollment of seventy-six students reflected the return of servicemen.
THE 1920's DECADE
1920
The law school became a member of the Association of American Law Schools
1921
More students, about 115, have enrolled than ever before in the Spring term. More are from other states than usual. In the Fall term 127 students were enrolled.
The College participated in the University exhibit at the State Fair in Jacksonville in November and law students presented a brief, humorous moot court case.
1923
Entrance requirements were raised to one year of college work.
1924
Phi Alpha Delta established.
1925
Requirements were raised to two years of college work.
The American Bar Association approved the school as an “A” school.
Stella Biddle [Fisher], the first woman to attend the law school, was permitted to take a class but not register as a student. She passed the Florida Bar Examination and was admitted to practice law.
1927
The practice of allowing students who wanted to take one or more law classes but did not meet the qualifications for admission to law school was discontinued.
The sixth faculty member was hired at a salary of $3,400 annually.
Law library of John W. Henderson of Tallahassee was given to the law school. In addition to standard books, volumes of rare value and historical importance were included.
1928
Admission requirements were raised to sixty-eight semester hours.
Alma Slagle, wife of law faculty member, Dean Slagle, attended law school and in 1928 was the first woman to graduate. There is no record that she was admitted to the Florida Bar or that she ever practiced law.
The law library contained 8,258 volumes, exclusive of the Henderson collection.
1929
Total funds requested for 1929-1930 were $35,787.
THE 1930's DECADE
1930-31
Enrolled students numbered 204.
Seven full-time faculty and one half-time taught in the regular Fall and Spring semesters.
Four faculty taught in the Summer Session.
1931-32
The College was among the first law schools to offer a credit course in Legal Research.
Selected students with high scholastic rank were permitted to develop “studies.” Suitable papers were submitted to law journals for publication. Several were published in the Florida State Bar Association Journal.
Student enrollment was 209. Total number of enrolled students since 1909 was 3,657 of whom 661 graduated. Many students enrolled in Summer School only to take several law classes.
A survey conducted by the Registrar’s Office indicated that: Law and Education had the largest number of graduates from 1905 through 1932; 90% of Law and Medical graduates considered their positions permanent; and Law graduates were the highest paid of all groups.
1932
The library contained 10,765 volumes which met the minimum requirements of the AALS. of 10,000 volumes.
1933
The J.D. degree was eliminated as of September 1, 1933. Three degrees were offered: LL.B., LL.B. with honors, and LL.B. with high honors.
Admission requirement was raised to an academic degree or completing a combined course at the University. This was the highest requirement for a Southern law school at that time. Also, a C average in college work was required.
Student enrollment was 244.
A course in Air Law was offered for the first time.
Clara Backus Floyd (Gehan), Rose Ealine Friedlin, and Natalie Marion Weinstein (Berger) were the first women to complete their legal education at the University of Florida College of Law, graduate, and be admitted to the Florida Bar.
1934
Effective in September the requirement for admission is an academic degree or completion of the requirements for a combined course.
Library holdings reached 11,476.
1935
144 students enrolled.
Summer law courses reinstated after having been eliminated two years. One Law course had the top number of students enrolled for the entire University.
Law school summer budget was restored and surplus funds no longer were required to be returned to UF.
1936
Library expanded into a classroom and renovations were made to improve library space.
59 Summer students enrolled, and 135 students enrolled in the fall.
Volumes in library reached 12,068 on July 1st.
1937
143 students enrolled.
1938
Class of 1938 inaugurated a student loan fund.
In May the total number of law graduates was 1007.
Efforts to secure funding for a library addition were successful. Upon completion the building would be 50% larger providing for more library space, additional classrooms, consultation rooms and offices.
1939
Equitable Remedies and Administrative Law were added to the curriculum along with reorganized property courses.
Students were invited to prepare case comments for the Florida Bar Journal.
165 students were enrolled.
Law building planning neared completion. The four-story addition would house 50,000 library volumes.
THE 1940's DECADE
1940
The faculty adjusted the curriculum weighing the balance between good old and good new courses, and between those of intellectual content and those of a laboratory nature.
49 students (excluding Summer term) graduated.
The library collection numbered 14,000 volumes.
Construction of the four-story concrete and brick building to house the law library began in February 1940.
Students were active in campus life over the last several years, serving as presidents of the student body, Florida Blue Key, Honor Court, F Club and the Athletic Council.
1941
The library annex was completed and housed 60,000 volumes. Space vacated by the library was to be renovated for classrooms, offices, and study and consultation rooms.
The entire plant of the College of Law was dedicated and named in honor of Nathan Philemon Bryan, Chairman of the Board of Control at the founding of the College of Law.
During the World War II era the enrollment declined substantially; however the law school remained open.
1945+
Following the end of the war, a vast increase in number of veterans on the G.I. Bill enrolled in classes and graduated in the late 1940s.
1947
Professor Clifford W. Crandall served as acting dean following the retirement of Harry W. Trusler.
1948
Henry A. Fenn became Dean of the College of Law.
The first issue of the Law Review was published in the Spring. Editorial Board consisted of Harold B. Crosby, Editor-in-Chief, and Herman Ulmer, Jr., Louis Leibovit, Warren M. Goodrich, and J. Allen Smith.
The College of Law Building was completely renovated and additions included a new office suite for the Dean and additional faculty offices.
The numbers of faculty increased, the curriculum revised, admissions process strengthened, and the Legal Ethics program established.
THE 1950's DECADE
1950
In the Spring construction of a new wing was completed, providing for a library reading room seating 150 students, a courtroom-auditorium seating 250, and a suite of offices for the UF Law Review.
1955
The Order of the Coif was established at the College of Law.
1958
Frank E. Maloney was named Acting Dean following Henry Fenn’s return to full-time teaching.
September 15th. George Starke was the first African American student to enroll in the University of Florida College of Law. He withdrew from law school after the first year.
1959
Frank E. Maloney was appointed Dean in May.
The College of Law celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The Florida Law Center Scholarship Fund was established. 150 law firms became charter members and more than 500 members pledged contributions to the fund.