The College of Law

The Law School of Cincinnati College was formed in May 1833 with its first class beginning in October of that year. It was the first law school formed west of the Alleghenies, which now makes it the oldest law school outside the East Coast. The Law Department at the University of Cincinnati was founded separately in June 1896. When the two schools merged in 1897, they signed a contract that they would remain together for 10 years. The merger was facilitated by Alfred B. Benedict and William Howard Taft. Benedict was a graduate of the UC Law Department and was serving on the board of directors for the school. The merger combined the best of both schools. The Law School of Cincinnati College provided a large endowment, an extensive library, and a relatively new building located at 9^th and Vine streets. The Law Department of UC offered its special form of education called the “case” study program. The new school would adopt this “case” study style of law learning. The schools remained united until the 10 year agreement was over, and then they briefly separated. However, when Alfred B. Benedict became Dean of the school, he permanently reunited the two schools.

On October 25, 1925, Alphonso Taft Hall, the new law school building on UC’s main campus, was dedicated. Alphonso Taft was a powerful man, having served as Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant. After moving to Cincinnati in 1839, he served on city council and was on the faculty and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the University of Cincinnati. He had three sons who graduated from law school in Cincinnati, one of whom, Charles Taft, made a very generous donation for the new building. Another of Alphonso’s sons was William Howard Taft. In 1925, he was then was Chief Justice of the United States and gave the keynote speech at the dedication.

The law school expanded further with the addition in May 1965, of an additional library wing, designed by Herbert Hilmer. It was named after Robert S Marx, a local judge and benefactor of the University who left money for it in his will when he died in 1960. Chief Justice Earl Warren gave the dedication speech for the Robert Marx Library. In the 1960’s the school began to fall below accreditation standards, and due to growth in the school there was not enough library, classroom, and study space. The American Bar Association and Association of American Law School’s annual inspection showed that the school needed to upgrade and expand its facilities. The school’s academic standing was never questioned, but it was evident that the school had outgrown its physical capacity. Plans for additions to Taft Hall or moving to a different building on campus were considered, but it was finally decided that a building would be constructed around the existing structure. Architect E.A. Glendening was hired to create the new building while still allowing the program to run inside the original structure. Although many people were eager to keep the large distinctive columns of the Taft building, it was not structurally possible. Three sides were added on to original Taft Hall, one at a time so that some normal class sessions could continue. The exterior walls of Taft served as the interior walls of the new building. The innards of original Taft were then gutted and remodeled so that it has the appearance of a new building. The new building has three times more space than the old Taft Hall and Marx library. The book capacity of the library also tripled. Construction on the new law school was completed in 1982.

Alphonso Taft Hall. Built in 1925. (Photo courtesy of Steve Hissem, http://shissem.com/Hissem_Jesse_Hissam_of_David.html.)

New Law School. Built in 1982. (Photo Courtesy of C. St. Pierre, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frontentrance2.JPG.)

“Announcement of The Cincinnati Law School.” Sept 28, 1908. “Law School” University of Cincinatti Archives.

Barrow, Roscoe L. . “Historical Note on the University of Cincinnati College of Law

(Cincinnati Law School)”. n.d. p. 294

Rutter, C. Irvin and Samuel S. Wilson. The University of Cincinnati College of Law:

An Overview 1833-1983. n.d.