Bill Text: VA SB1234 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Virginia State Bar examination; foreign applicants.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-02-08 - Continued to Special Session 1 in Courts of Justice by voice vote [SB1234 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2021-SB1234-Comm_Sub.html
21104012D
SENATE BILL NO. 1234
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
on February 1, 2021)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Petersen)
A BILL to amend and reenact §54.1-3926 of the Code of Virginia, relating to foreign applicants for Virginia Bar examination.

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. Been licensed as an attorney or barrister in a foreign country, obtained a LL.M. degree from an accredited law school in the United States, 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.

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