New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva) Certificates of Clerkships J2104

New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva) Certificates of Clerkships

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This series contains documents relating to clerkships served by persons who eventually would seek admission to practice as attorneys in the Supreme Court of Judicature. Records concerning law clerkships include certificates stating that a student began a clerkship and setting the term of the clerkship, affidavits of clerkship applicants, certificates attesting to the clerk's moral character, reports of examiners on whether individual candidates passed, and related documents. These documents appear to have been filed at Utica, not Geneva.

Creator:

New York (State). Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva)

Title:

Certificates of clerkships

Quantity:

1.3 cubic feet

3 boxes

Inclusive Dates:

1838-1844

Series Number:

J2104

Arrangement

Chronological by year and court term, then alphabetical by name of clerk.

Scope and Content Note

Records concerning law clerkships include certificates stating that a student began a clerkship and setting the term of the clerkship, affidavits of clerkship applicants, certificates attesting to the clerk's moral character, reports of examiners on whether individual candidates passed, and related documents.

This series contains documents relating to clerkships served by persons who eventually would seek admission to practice as attorneys in the Supreme Court of Judicature. A typical file includes the following documents: certificate of attorney of the Supreme Court 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; the certificate of attorney of the Supreme Court 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.

Occasionally there are found appointments of examiners; certificates of examiners stating names of individuals who have been found qualified to be admitted to practice as attorneys or counsellors; reports of examiners on whether individual candidates passed; and calculations of fees and of months spent in classical studies. On the dorso of each document is the name of the clerk and the date of filing, which is soon after the examination. These documents appear to have been filed at Utica, not Geneva.

The rules regarding clerkship and admission to practice as an attorney in the Supreme Court of Judicature were adopted by the court in the October term, 1797, and amended in 1803.

Related Material

Series J0104, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Albany) Certificates of Clerkships, may contain Geneva certificates for other years

Series J0126, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Utica) Motions, contains related records

Series J0128, New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Utica) General Term Minute Books, may contain names of attorneys and counsellors for the Geneva territory