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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a person's eligibility to sit for the examination for a |
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license to practice law in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 82.022(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The supreme court may adopt rules on eligibility for |
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examination for a license to practice law and on the manner in which |
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the examination is conducted. The rules may include: |
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(1) provisions to ensure: |
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(A) good moral character of each candidate for a |
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license; |
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(B) adequate prelegal study and attainment; and |
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(C) at least two years of adequate study of the |
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law or practical experience in the legal field [for at least two |
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years], which may include: |
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(i) a [covering the] course of study |
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prescribed by the supreme court or the equivalent of that course; |
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(ii) an apprenticeship supervised by an |
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attorney licensed to practice law in this state; or |
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(iii) professional experience as a |
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paralegal in this state; |
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(2) the legal topics to be covered by: |
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(A) a [the] course of study prescribed by the |
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supreme court or an equivalent course of study; and [by] |
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(B) the examination; |
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(3) the times and places for holding the examination; |
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(4) the manner of conducting the examination; |
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(5) the grades necessary for licensing; and |
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(6) any other matter consistent with this chapter |
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desirable to make the issuance of a license to practice law evidence |
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of good character and fair capacity and attainment and proficiency |
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in the knowledge of law. |
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SECTION 2. Section 82.023(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The board shall notify each person [first-year law |
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student] who files the declaration not later than the date |
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established by supreme court rule of the board's decision as to the |
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person's [student's] acceptable character and fitness. [The board |
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shall notify all other declarants not later than the date |
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established by supreme court rule whether or not it has determined |
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that the declarant has acceptable character and fitness.] |
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SECTION 3. Section 82.024, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 82.024. LAW STUDY OR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE |
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REQUIREMENTS; ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATION. (a) In this section, |
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"approved law school" means a law school the supreme court approves |
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for the period the court designates as maintaining the standards |
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required for approval and offering the course of study the court |
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prescribes or an equivalent course of study. |
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(b) A person satisfies the eligibility requirements to sit |
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for the examination for a license to practice law if the person |
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[who] has completed: |
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(1) the prescribed course of study or its equivalent |
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in an approved law school; |
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(2) a two-year apprenticeship supervised by an |
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attorney licensed to practice law in this state; or |
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(3) at least two years of full-time professional |
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employment as a paralegal in this state [has satisfied the law study |
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requirements for taking the examination for a license to practice |
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law and is eligible to take the bar examination. An approved law |
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school is one that is approved by the supreme court for the time |
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period designated by the court as maintaining the additional |
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standards to retain approval]. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court and the Board of Law Examiners |
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shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Sections 82.022, |
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82.023, and 82.024, Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |