The Legal Education in Tamil Nadu has a long and interesting history. Mr. George Norton was the first to conceive the idea of Legal education in Madras. The genesis of Legal Education can be traced to the informal law classes conducted by him in his house in the form of conversations in the early 19th century.
In 1852 at the direction of the Governor, Sir Henry Pottinger, a Government High School was expanded into the Presidency College. Mr. John Bruce Norton who was appointed as the first Professor of law in 1855, delivered his lectures at the Presidency College. Till 1884, there was only one Professor of Law in the Presidency College. In 1884, to supplement lectures by tutorials, a second Professor was appointed. To him was entrusted the tutorial work. The Scheme was put on trial for two years. Since it proved a success, it was continued for two more years from Ist January 1886.