79R6764 KLA-D

By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 1550



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to licensing of attorneys.                                           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 82.024, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 82.024.  LAW STUDY REQUIREMENTS; ELIGIBILITY FOR 
EXAMINATION.  (a)  A person who has completed the prescribed study 
in an approved law school 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.
	(b)  The supreme court may not adopt rules regarding the  
eligibility of an applicant for examination for a license to 
practice law that prohibit the applicant from taking the 
examination after failing a specified number of previous 
examinations.
	SECTION 2.  Section 82.036, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 82.036.  FOREIGN ATTORNEYS.  (a)  The supreme court 
shall make such rules and regulations as to admitting attorneys 
from other jurisdictions to practice law in this state as it shall 
deem proper and just.  All such attorneys shall be required to 
furnish satisfactory proof as to good moral character.
	(b)  The rules adopted under this section must allow an 
attorney licensed to practice law in another jurisdiction to be 
admitted to practice law in this state without examination if the 
attorney:
		(1)  completed the law study requirements for admission 
at an approved law school in this state;
		(2)  has been actively and substantially engaged in the 
practice of law in the other jurisdiction for:
			(A)  at least three of the last seven years 
immediately preceding the date the attorney filed the application 
for a license in Texas, if the attorney has never taken and failed 
the Texas bar examination; or
			(B)  at least five of the last seven years 
immediately preceding the date the attorney filed the application 
for a license in Texas, if the attorney failed the last Texas bar 
examination taken by the attorney;  and
		(3)  is otherwise eligible for admission to practice 
law without examination.
	SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date 
of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt rules to implement 
Section 82.036, Government Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 4.  Sections 82.024 and 82.036, Government Code, as 
amended by this Act, apply only to a person who files an application 
for admission to the State Bar of Texas on or after September 1, 
2005.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.