The Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana, as adopted on December 19th, 1896, set forth the requirements for admission to the Bar. A citizen of Louisiana first had to have evidence of good moral character, and have studied for at least two years under the direction of a respectable attorney. They would have to pass an examination by a committee. If they did pass, they would then be examined in public by the court itself. However,
"3. The Court will not be satisfied with the qualification of a candidate in point of legal learning, unless it shall appear by examination that he is well read in the following course of studies, at least: Story on the Constitution; Vattel’s law of Nations, or Wheaton’s Elements of International law; the History of the Civil Law in Louisiana; the Louisiana Civil Code; the Code of Practice; the Statutes of the State of a General nature; the Institutes of Justinian; Domat’s Civil Law or some satisfactory equivalent for Domat; Pothier’s Treatise on Obligations; Blachstone’s Commentaries, fourth book; Kent’s Commentaries; Smith on Mercatile Law; Wood on Insurance; Story or Parsons on Notes; Daniel on Negotiable Instruments; Greenleaf, Starkie or Phillips on Evidence; Russell on Crimes; Bishop on Criminal procedure; and the jurisprudence of Louisiana, as settled by the decisions of the Supreme Court."
