Legal Profession, History of

Abstract

From the early colonial period to the end of the seventeenth century, the American legal profession was hampered by lack of a stable body of law and lack of adequate training facilities within the colonies. The end of the seventeenth century was marked by reforms in legal education and stricter requirements for admission to the bar. Dean Christopher Langdell's casebook method introduced in the Harvard Law School and adopted in most law schools nationwide led to the formalization of legal education. The development of state and national bar associations further led to the professionalization of the legal industry.