Modern lawyers appeared as early as the heyday of Greek and Roman civilization In Athens, the oration was a common practice for handling cases The speaker , the equivalent of modern - day New York lawyers could have been the accused himself or a friend who would speak on his behalf Ancient Rome was the birthplace of the first bar Unlike Athens, which banned paid orator services, the Roman emperor Claudius paved the way for private legal practice by legalizing lawyers' fees The first law school existed in 450 BC Veritas, now in Beirut, Lebanon, was the location of this law school The school taught Roman law ad paved the way for present - day law firms NYC The Roman emperors supported the school, and they specialized in the study and perfection of law and rhetoric • WWW FOURTONASSOCIATES COM • • •