Winchester Law School

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Winchester Law School was a private legal school in Winchester, Virginia. It operated from 1824 to 1831 and was led by Chancellor Henry St. George Tucker Sr. He closed the school after being elected to the Virginia Court of Appeals, which required him to move to Richmond.

In 1824, Tucker was named Chancellor of the Equity Court of the Fourth District, with jurisdiction in Clarksburg and Winchester. He had left the Virginia State Senate and a successful law practice to take the judicial job, and he needed extra income. He had taught as a law professor before, so he started a small law school in a building at what is now 37 South Cameron Street in Winchester.

Tucker used copies of Blackstone's Commentaries from his father, St. George Tucker, as the basis for instruction. He lectured three days a week and gave regular quizzes. He also prepared, edited, and published Tucker's Notes on Blackstone's Commentaries for the Use of Students. Tucker's Commentaries updated Blackstone with current state and federal law and focused on American common law rather than English theory, which made them popular.

The Winchester Law School did well, thanks to Tucker's strong reputation. It began with 11 students in 1824–1825 and grew to more than 30 students per term. In 1831 Tucker was elected to the Virginia Court of Appeals and had to move to Richmond, so he closed the school.