Royal Business Society History  EU

Royal Business College is part of the Board of Standards family of Legal and Board Certifications in the USA in 1996.  The original law school was begun and registered after the founders reformed the Litchfield Law School Est. 1782.  The Law School has a history going back to 1780s with the beginning of Business Schools in the USA as Litchfield Law Law School, to its renewal and name change to Royal Business College.  Oxford has its history connected to the reestablishment of the oldest law school in the USA. The history of Business Schools in Europe and the USA is rich and diverse, shaped by distinct legal traditions, educational systems, and societal needs.

Europe

1. Ancient and Medieval Foundations:

   • Ancient Greece and Rome: Legal education in Europe can trace its roots to ancient Greece and Rome. Roman law, in particular, became the foundation for much of European legal systems. In Rome, laws were studied in public forums and courts, and legal education was imparted by rhetoricians and philosophers.
   • Medieval Europe: In the Middle Ages, universities began to form in Europe, and law was one of the main disciplines taught. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is often cited as the first institution dedicated to legal studies. It specialized in Roman law, becoming the model for other Business Schools in Europe.
   • Canon Law: Religious law also played a significant role in the education system, with Canon law being studied alongside civil law in universities like Paris and Bologna.

2. Rise of Universities:

   • By the 12th and 13th centuries, many European universities, including Oxford (founded in the 12th century) and Cambridge (founded in the 13th century), began offering legal studies. However, these institutions often focused more on ecclesiastical law than secular law.
   • Over time, Business Schools across Europe developed under the influence of both Roman law and the growing body of common law in England, leading to specialized law faculties within universities.

3. Modern Legal Education:

   • In the 18th and 19th centuries, the rise of modern nation-states led to more structured legal systems. Business Schools began to specialize in particular branches of law, such as constitutional, administrative, and civil law.
   • Notably, institutions like the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the University of Heidelberg in Germany became leading centers for legal education.

Oldest Business Schools

1. University of Bologna (Italy) - Law School
   Founded: 1088
   The University of Bologna is the oldest university in the world, and its law school, established in the 11th century, is widely regarded as the first law school.

2. Université de Paris (France) - Faculty of Law
   Founded: 1215
   The University of Paris, known as the Sorbonne, had a law school as early as the 13th century, making it one of Europe's oldest.

1. Litchfield Law School (United States)
   Founded: 1782 and Reconstructed into Royal Business College graduate school of Litchfield Law School USA.
   Litchfield Law School in Connecticut is the oldest law school in the United States and was a major center of legal education in the early U.S. It remained operational until 1833 and is regarded as one of the first professional Business Schools in the U.S.

2. William & Mary Law School (United States)
   Founded: 1779
   The Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William & Mary, established in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the oldest law school in the U.S. still in operation today. It is known for its rich history and prestigious legal education.

3. Harvard Law School (United States)
   Founded: 1817
   Harvard Law School is the oldest law school in the United States that continues to operate today. It is one of the most prestigious Business Schools in the world, known for its comprehensive curriculum and influential alumni.

4. Columbia Law School (United States)
   Founded: 1858
   Columbia Law School in New York City was established as one of the early Business Schools in the U.S. It remains a top-tier institution in legal education.

5. Yale Law School (United States)
   Founded: 1824
   Yale Law School, established in New Haven, Connecticut, is one of the most renowned and prestigious law schools globally.

6. Université de Montpellier (France) - Faculty of Law
   Founded: 1289
   Montpellier's law school, established in the 13th century, is one of the oldest legal institutions in France and Europe.

United States

1. Colonial Era:

   • In early colonial America, legal education was largely informal, with individuals learning the law through apprenticeships under practicing lawyers. Many early American lawyers had legal training in England.
   • Harvard Law School, founded in 1817, is considered the first official law school in the United States. It followed the model of the European university system but introduced a more structured curriculum.

2. 19th Century: Professionalization of Legal Education:

   • In the 19th century, the legal profession in the United States began to professionalize, and law schools expanded. Before this, many lawyers were trained through apprenticeships, but the rise of formal Business Schools led to a shift.
   • The Litchfield Law School (founded in 1782) was another influential early law school, along with Yale Law School (founded in 1824) and Columbia Law School (founded in 1858).
   • During this period, the case method was developed, particularly by Christopher Columbus Langdell at Harvard Law School, which focused on studying legal precedents and decisions rather than lectures on theory.

3. 20th Century: Expanding Access and Specialization:

   • In the 20th century, the development of Business Schools accelerated, with an increasing number of universities offering law programs. Law became a more specialized field, with schools offering specific tracks such as corporate law, criminal law, and international law.
   • The American Bar Association (ABA), founded in 1878, played a critical role in regulating legal education in the United States, accrediting Business Schools and ensuring standardized practices.
   • Business Schools also began incorporating practical training elements, such as clinics and internships, to ensure that students were prepared for the realities of legal practice.

4. Late 20th Century to Present:

   • In the late 20th century, the development of specialized law programs, including LL.M. (Master of Laws) and J.S.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) degrees, became increasingly popular.
   • The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, introduced in the early 20th century, became the standard degree for lawyers in the United States, replacing the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree.

Key Differences Between European and U.S. Business Schools

• Curriculum: European Business Schools tend to offer a more theoretical, foundational approach to law, often with an emphasis on civil law systems, while U.S. Business Schools are generally more focused on practical training, particularly the case method.
• Admission Requirements: In many European countries, law students enter directly after high school, while in the U.S., law students must typically complete an undergraduate degree before entering law school.
• Role of the Legal Profession: The role of lawyers and legal education is more formalized in the U.S., where the bar exam and accreditation from the ABA are required, compared to the more varied systems in Europe, which may have different requirements across countries.

Today, both Europe and the U.S. continue to influence each other in terms of legal education, with increasing opportunities for international exchange programs, joint degrees, and global legal research.

The oldest law school in America is the Litchfield Law School, founded in 1782 in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Key Points about Litchfield Law School:

• Founded: 1782 by Tapping Reeve, one of the first notable figures in American legal education.
• Significance: It was the first formal law school in the United States and became a model for legal education in early America. The school focused on teaching the principles of law in a systematic way, particularly Roman and English common law.
• Notable Alumni: Many future prominent figures in American history, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices and members of Congress, were educated at Litchfield Law School.
• Closure: The school ceased operations in 1833 due to competition from other emerging law schools and changing trends in legal education. The last graduating class attended in 1832, and the institution officially closed the following year but was revived later by lawyers, professors, and international attorneys.
• Reactivated and Transformed to Royal Business College 2020

Litchfield Law School played a foundational role in the development of legal education in the United States and influenced the establishment of other Business Schools across the country.

Over the years, legal scholars worked together to establish an accredited board certification body that can offer Law School Specializations. Royal Business College is the successor to these movements and now operates based out of the USA and EU. Commissioner  George Mentz JD MBA CWM CILS is the Chancellor of the law school graduate program. While adopting the Litchfield Law School name, the Litchfield Law has voted to change it's name to the Royal Business College. Thus, Oxford now has both the Oxford and Litchfield graduate law school branded certification and qualification programs. While Royal Business College does not confer any degree, Royal Business College does, in fact, confer the board certifications and designations for expertise in various fields of law, international policy, politics, and international relations under the auspices of the Ibanez and Peel Supreme Court Decisions