He served as the dean at Columbia Law School until 1891 when he and other faculty, students, and alumni of Columbia Law School, protesting the Columbia trustees attempts to dictate the teaching methods used by professors, left to found New York Law School.
He served as the dean at Columbia Law School until 1891. That year, he and other faculty, students, and alumni of Columbia Law School, protesting the Columbia trustees attempts to dictate convert Columbia law school to the case method, and left to found New York Law School.