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The three series described below contain documents relating to clerkships served by persons intending to seek admission as attorneys in the Supreme Court of Judicature. A typical file includes the following documents: certificate of attorney stating that a student commenced his clerkship on a certain date; certificate by a Supreme Court justice setting the term of clerkship and reducing it up to four years for time spent in classical studies; affidavit of applicant for clerkship, describing the course of study he offers in place of up to four years of clerkship, with allowance of time by a justice; certificate of instructor stating length of time the applicant was a student; certificate of attorney stating that the applicant has served his clerkship for a certain term of years and attesting to his good moral character. The affidavit describing the course of study often lists subjects taken or textbooks read and names the academy or college attended.
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License to Practice Law, 1808. This license, signed by Chief Justice Kent, admits John Grieg of Canandaigua to practice as a counselor at law in the Supreme Court of Judicature. The engraving at the left depicts Themis, goddess of justice, instructing a young attorney. (Courtesy Manuscripts & Special Collections, New York State Library [accession no. 14974].) |
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Found occasionally are appointments of examiners; certificates of examiners stating names of individuals who have been found qualified to be admitted to practice; reports of examiners on whether individual candidates passed; and calculations of fees and of months spent in classical studies. The papers are bundled roughly by year and court term and sometimes alphabetically by name of clerk. Many are out of order. The documents are not indexed. Rules regarding clerkships and admission to practice were adopted by the Supreme Court in October term 1797, amended in 1803, and readopted in October term 1829, October term, 1832, and January term, 1836.
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| J0104 |
Certificates of Clerkships (Albany), 1803-10, 1813-47. 8.6 cu. ft.
This series may include some clerkship papers originally filed at Utica and Geneva. Lists of attorneys and counselors admitted to practice in the Supreme Court are found in J0l30 Minute Books (Albany).
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| J1104 |
Certificates of Clerkships (Utica), 1807-26, 1832-36. 1.3 cu. ft.
The location of clerkship papers for other years is uncertain. They may be found in J0104 Certificates of Clerkships (Albany). Lists of attorneys and counselors admitted to practice in the Supreme Court are found in J0l28 Minute Books (Utica).
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| J2104 |
Certificates of Clerkships (Geneva), 1838, 1842, 1844. 1.3 cu. ft.
The location of Geneva clerkship papers for other years is uncertain. They may be found in J0104 Certificates of Clerkships (Albany). The documents in this series appear to have been filed at Utica, but they apply to the Geneva territory. Lists of attorneys and counselors were entered in the Utica Minute Books, J0l28.
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