Professor Taught His Way Through Law College


Because keeping abreast of
 developments in his particular
 subject, corporation law, requires 
active practice in the field, LAY
LIN K. JAMES, '18, J.D.'23, Pro
fessor of Law, returns to New York
 City every other summer to resume 
the practice he left in 1926. This 
serves to acquaint him with the latest techniques in his chosen field. 


Professor James likes to tell people 
that he was born in Siam—and
 then, when they look startled, adds: 
"Siam, Ohio, you know." July 2, 
 1893, is the date, but Michigan 
didn't see him until 1914, when he 
enrolled in the Literary College. He 
left in 1923 with an A.B. and a
 Juris Doctor's degree, as a member 
of Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the
 Coif, and the Law Review board.


During his Law School days, he was 
Instructor in Greek and Roman his
tory, and from 1919-1921 taught 
history, economics, sociology, political science, and labor problems at
 Lewis Institute, Chicago. After 
three years of practice in New York 
City, he joined the faculty of the
 University of Pittsburgh Law
 School, returning to Michigan in
 1929 as Professor of Law.

During 
the World War, he served as Second 
Lieutenant of Field Artillery. Pro
fessor James is the author of two
 volumes on business associations
 and corporate reorganization, as 
well as articles in the Michigan Law 
Review and the Michigan Bar Jour
nal. He helped draft the Michigan
 Corporation Act of 1931, and has 
served since on the Committee on
 Corporate Code and Securities of
 the Michigan Bar Association.

With these duties, and an active interest 
in the Community Fund, including
 past service as Chairman of the
 University Division and of the 
Men's Division, and present service
 as Director, and as governor of the
 University of Michigan Club of
 Ann Arbor, he finds time for coin
 collecting and bowling.