| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to internships for certain attorneys before engaging in |
|
|
certain trial work in civil matters. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 81, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 81.116 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 81.116. REQUIRED INTERNSHIP FOR TRIAL WORK IN CIVIL |
|
|
MATTERS. (a) An attorney who is licensed in this state may not have |
|
|
primary responsibility for representing a party in a trial in a |
|
|
civil matter, including a family law case or proceeding, unless the |
|
|
attorney has completed an internship that complies with |
|
|
requirements adopted by the supreme court. |
|
|
(b) The supreme court shall adopt rules prescribing the |
|
|
requirements for the internship. The rules must: |
|
|
(1) require that the internship be: |
|
|
(A) for a period of two years; and |
|
|
(B) under the supervision of a judge in this |
|
|
state or another attorney who has been licensed in this state for at |
|
|
least five years; |
|
|
(2) allow the internship to be paid or unpaid; and |
|
|
(3) prescribe procedures by which an attorney may |
|
|
provide proof to the state bar of having completed the internship. |
|
|
(c) An attorney who has primary responsibility for |
|
|
representing a party in a trial in a civil matter, but who has not |
|
|
completed the internship required by this section, is subject to |
|
|
disciplinary action by the state bar to the same extent the state |
|
|
bar may take disciplinary action for conduct that constitutes |
|
|
professional misconduct under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of |
|
|
Professional Conduct. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The Texas Supreme Court shall adopt rules as |
|
|
required by Section 81.116, Government Code, as added by this Act, |
|
|
not later than September 1, 2007. |
|
|
SECTION 3. The change in law made by Section 81.116, |
|
|
Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an attorney |
|
|
to whom a license to practice law in this state is issued on or after |
|
|
September 1, 2007. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |