Records of the Faculty of Law and Financial Studies

• Student records 1900-1978
• Minutes, agendas and papers 1901-1998
• Papers of David Walker, Regius Professor Emeritus of Law, University of Glasgow 1944, 1955-1993
• Faculty of Law newsletters 1965-1968
• Historical articles by John W. Cairns, Faculty of Law, University of Edinburgh 20th century

The Faculty of Law was one of the four faculties formed at the foundation of the university in 1451  . It was originally a higher faculty only offering postgraduate degrees to those who had already taken an Arts degree. The name of the faculty was changed to Law and Financial Studies in 1984  .

Both canon and civil law were taught from the foundation of the university in 1451  although teaching in canon law seems to have been stronger. The teaching of both began to languish, however, with civil law being abandoned after about 1471  and canon law after about 1513  . The teaching of law was reestablished in 1713  with the creation of a chair in civil law. In practice, however, most professors lectured in civil and Scots law and the faculty came to concentrate on the teaching of Scots Law. By the end of the century, teaching was increasingly directed in conjunction with the Glasgow Faculty of Procurators which established a part time chair in Conveyancing in 1861  for law apprentices. After the University moved to Gilmorehill , classes continued to be held in the Procurators' Hall in the City Centre. Gradually a law degree became the main avenue into the profession. In 1925  , a part time chair of accountancy was endowed in the faculty offering classes for law apprentices but mainly taken by accountancy apprentices. In 1967  the Bachelor of Accountancy became the normal entry to the profession.

The faculty is presided over by an appointed dean and conducts its own academic administration, including degree and course development, admissions and appeals and the financial administration of its resources.

Moss, M., Rankin M. and Richmond, L.Who, Where and When: The History & Constitution of the University of Glasgow . Glasgow : University of Glasgow  , 2001  .

Brown, AL. and Moss, M.The University of Glasgow: 1451-1996 . Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press  , 1996  .

Walker, D.M.A History of the School of Law. The University of Glasgow . Glasgow : University of Glasgow  , 1990  .

The material is arranged in series as described in the scope and content note.

Subfonds level description created by Victoria Peters, GASHE project manager, 21 June 2001  .