Russell D. Niles
Encyclopedia
Russell D. Niles was a lawyer
and expert in anti-trust law, president of the New York City Bar Association, and a dean of New York University School of Law
.
, Minnesota
in 1902. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
and Juris Doctor
from the University of Montana in 1924 and 1925, respectively.
Following his graduation, from 1925 to 1929 Niles served as a debate coach and English professor at the University of Colorado
.
In 1929, he enrolled at Yale Law School
, and earned his Master of Laws
degree in 1931.
, where he became a full professor in 1944. From 1942 to 1944, Niles was also a Trusts and Estates
lawyer at the New York firm Putnam & Roberts. At NYU, he specialized in trust law
, and in 1948 he became dean
of the Law School, a post which he held until 1963. He continued to teach law as the Charles Denison professor of law from 1963 to 1966, when he retired to San Francisco. After retiring, Niles taught as an emeritus
professor at University of California, Hastings College of the Law
.
Aside from his teaching career, Niles also held a number of public posts. He chaired the American Bar Association
’s Section on Real Property
Probate
and Trust Law; served as director of the Institute of Judicial Administration; and from 1966 to 1967 served as president of the New York City Bar Association.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and expert in anti-trust law, president of the New York City Bar Association, and a dean of New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
.
Early life and education
Russell Niles was born in Twin ValleyTwin Valley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 865 people, 360 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 987.0 people per square mile . There were 399 housing units at an average density of 455.3 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in 1902. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Montana in 1924 and 1925, respectively.
Following his graduation, from 1925 to 1929 Niles served as a debate coach and English professor at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
.
In 1929, he enrolled at Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, and earned his Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree in 1931.
Legal career
Upon receiving his L.L.M., Niles joined the faculty of New York University School of LawNew York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
, where he became a full professor in 1944. From 1942 to 1944, Niles was also a Trusts and Estates
Trusts and estates
The law of trusts and estates is generally considered the body of law which governs the management of personal affairs and the disposition of property of an individual in anticipation of the event of such person's incapacity or death, also known as the law of successions in civil law...
lawyer at the New York firm Putnam & Roberts. At NYU, he specialized in trust law
Trust law
In common law legal systems, a trust is a relationship whereby property is held by one party for the benefit of another...
, and in 1948 he became dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Law School, a post which he held until 1963. He continued to teach law as the Charles Denison professor of law from 1963 to 1966, when he retired to San Francisco. After retiring, Niles taught as an emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
professor at University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of California, Hastings College of the Law is a public law school in San Francisco, California, located in the Civic Center neighborhood....
.
Aside from his teaching career, Niles also held a number of public posts. He chaired the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
’s Section on Real Property
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
Probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
and Trust Law; served as director of the Institute of Judicial Administration; and from 1966 to 1967 served as president of the New York City Bar Association.