Interesting find....

I examined a wonderful bit of history today. It was the journal of a Maine lawyer in the late 1800s. The first part embodies his law school notes, approximately half the journal. Then, starting several pages after the end of those notes, is a ledger titled, “Expense Fitting up Law Office.” There he notes every expense from the $0.04 for sand paper to $3.00 for an office table to the $20.00 for “Admission fee to practice law (father paid).” He then used it as his accounts ledger where he records all his billable time from $0.25 for “Pension Services” on up (his highest single bill was $13.00).

In an entry dated Sept. 19, 1889, he writes, “My first year as an attorney at law closes today, Sept. 19, and during that period my income amounts to $120.25 as legitimate law practice, not including salary as solicitor of the City of Rockland now due but not drawn of $75.00 up to date.”

It was a great read and, with luck, will be living at the U. of M. Law Library in the not too distant future.