bill opening the bar exam to apprentices and paralegals

The text as introduced · 604 words

By: Virdell
H.B. No. 1387

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a person's eligibility to sit for the examination for a

license to practice law in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 82.022(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The supreme court may adopt rules on eligibility for

examination for a license to practice law and on the manner in which

the examination is conducted. The rules may include:

(1) provisions to ensure:

(A) good moral character of each candidate for a

license;

(B) adequate prelegal study and attainment; and

(C) at least two years of adequate study of the

law or practical experience in the legal field [ for at least two

years ], which may include:

(i) a [ covering the ] course of study

prescribed by the supreme court or the equivalent of that course ;

(ii) an apprenticeship supervised by an

attorney licensed to practice law in this state; or

(iii) professional experience as a

paralegal in this state ;

(2) the legal topics to be covered by :

(A) a [ the ] course of study prescribed by the

supreme court or an equivalent course of study; and [ by ]

(B) the examination;

(3) the times and places for holding the examination;

(4) the manner of conducting the examination;

(5) the grades necessary for licensing; and

(6) any other matter consistent with this chapter

desirable to make the issuance of a license to practice law evidence

of good character and fair capacity and attainment and proficiency

in the knowledge of law.

SECTION 2. Section 82.023(c), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(c) The board shall notify each person [ first-year law

student ] who files the declaration not later than the date

established by supreme court rule of the board's decision as to the

person's [ student's ] acceptable character and fitness. [ The board

shall notify all other declarants not later than the date

established by supreme court rule whether or not it has determined

that the declarant has acceptable character and fitness. ]

SECTION 3. Section 82.024, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 82.024. LAW STUDY OR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

REQUIREMENTS; ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATION. (a) In this section,

"approved law school" means a law school the supreme court approves

for the period the court designates as maintaining the standards

required for approval and offering the course of study the court

prescribes or an equivalent course of study.

(b) A person satisfies the eligibility requirements to sit

for the examination for a license to practice law if the person

[ who ] has completed :

(1) the prescribed course of study or its equivalent

in an approved law school ;

(2) a two-year apprenticeship supervised by an

attorney licensed to practice law in this state; or

(3) at least two years of full-time professional

employment as a paralegal in this state [ has satisfied the law study

requirements for taking the examination for a license to practice

law and is eligible to take the bar examination. An approved law

school is one that is approved by the supreme court for the time

period designated by the court as maintaining the additional

standards to retain approval ].

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court and the Board of Law Examiners

shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Sections 82.022,

82.023, and 82.024, Government Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.