In 1779, William & Mary established the very first law school in America. William & Mary’s program in law was established to implement many of the ideals of the American Revolution, as it was thought that well-educated citizen lawyers would make particularly appropriate leaders for the new republic. Our first law professor, George Wythe, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, said that William & Mary aspired “to form such characters as may be fit to succeed those which have been ornamental and useful in the national councils of America.”