Bill Text: VA SB1234 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Virginia State Bar examination; foreign applicants, evidence required.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-18 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0296) [SB1234 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-SB1234-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§54.1-3926. Preliminary proof of education required of applicant.
Before an applicant will be permitted to take any examination under this article, the applicant shall furnish to the Board satisfactory evidence that he has:
1. Completed all degree requirements from a law school
approved by the American Bar Association or the Board; or
2. Received a bachelor's degree from an accredited
baccalaureate institution of higher education and studied law for three years,
consisting of not less than 18 hours per week for at least 40 weeks per year in
the office of an attorney practicing in this the Commonwealth,
whose full time is devoted to the practice of law; or
3. Studied law for at least three years partly in a law school
approved by the American Bar Association or the Board and partly, for not less
than 18 hours per week for at least 40 weeks per year, in the office of an
attorney practicing in this the Commonwealth whose full time is
devoted to the practice of law; or
4. Received a bachelor's degree from an accredited baccalaureate institution of higher education and studied law for three years, consisting of not less than 18 hours per week for at least 40 weeks per year, with a retired circuit court judge who served the Commonwealth as a circuit court judge for a minimum of 10 years and who at the time of commencement of the three-year study period was retired for not more than five years; or
5. Completed all degree requirements from a law school not approved by the American Bar Association, including a foreign law school, obtained an LL.M. from a law school approved by the American Bar Association, and been admitted to practice law before the court of last resort in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.
The attorney in whose office or the judge with whom the applicant intends to study shall be approved by the Board, which shall prescribe reasonable conditions as to the course of study.
