In January 1883 the Philomathesian Literary Society initiated, as part of its society activity, a moot court association. Although its purpose was largely entertainment rather than legal training, it is the forerunner of the moot court activities that are an integral part of the College of Law. Moot court competitions began soon after the establishment of the Law School in 1890 and were augmented from 1897 to 1911 by the Robert J. McKinney Law Debating Society.