THE COURTS
Title 204—JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART IV. ADMISSION TO PRACTICE LAW
[ 204 PA. CODE CH. 71 ]
Order Amending Rules 203 and 204 of the Pennsylvania Bar Admission Rules; No. 552 Supreme Court Rules Doc.
[41 Pa.B. 5742]
[Saturday, October 29, 2011]
Order Per Curiam
And Now, this 14th day of October, 2011, upon the recommendation of the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners, the proposal having been submitted without publication pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(a)(3) in the interests of justice and efficient administration:
It Is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that Rules 203 and 204 of the Pennsylvania Bar Admission Rules are amended in the following form.
This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(b), and the amendments shall be effective 30 days from the date of this Order.
Annex A
TITLE 204. JUDICIAL SYSTEM
GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART IV. ADMISSION TO PRACTICE LAW
CHAPTER 71. PENNSYLVANIA BAR
ADMISSION RULES
Subchapter B. ADMISSION TO
THE BAR GENERALLY
IN GENERAL Rule 203. Admission of graduates of accredited and unaccredited institutions.
(a) Bar examination. The general requirements for permission to sit for the bar examination are:
(1) Receipt of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university or the receipt of an education which, in the opinion of the Board, is the equivalent of an undergraduate college or university education.
(2)(i) Except as provided in subparagraph 2(ii) of this Rule, completion of the study of law at and receipt without exception of an earned Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree from [an accredited] a law school that was an accredited law school at the time the applicant matriculated or graduated. See Rule 205 (relating to admission of graduates of foreign institutions) for standards applicable to graduates of foreign law schools; or
(ii) completion of the study of law at and receipt without exception of an earned Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree from [an unaccredited] a law school located within the boundaries of the United States of America that was not an accredited law school either at the time the applicant matriculated or graduated, provided that the applicant is a member of the bar of a reciprocal state and meets the following qualifications:
(A) Presentation of a certificate from the highest court or agency of such state having jurisdiction over admission to the bar and the practice of law stating that the applicant is in good standing at the bar of such court or such state.
(B) Presentation of proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has for a period of five years of the last seven years immediately preceding the date of filing of the application for admission to the bar of this Commonwealth:
(i) engaged in the practice of law in a reciprocal state or states outside this Commonwealth. For purposes of this paragraph, the phrase ''engaged in the practice of law'' is defined as ''devoting a major portion of one's time and energy to the rendering of legal services''; or
(ii) engaged full-time in the teaching of law at one or more accredited law schools in the United States; or
(iii) [served] engaged primarily in the performance of legal functions while serving on active duty in the United States military service[,] as a judge advocate [or law specialist, as those terms are] as defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. [Sec.] § 801, as amended, regardless of the location of the service.
* * * * * Rule 204. Admission of domestic attorneys.
As an alternative to satisfying the requirements of Rule 203, an attorney, licensed to practice law in another state, may be admitted to the bar of this Commonwealth if the applicant meets the following requirements:
(1) Has completed the study of law at and received without exception an earned Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree from [an accredited] a law school that was an accredited law school at the time the applicant matriculated or graduated.
* * * * * (8) Has passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam with the score required by the Court to be achieved by successful applicants under Rule 203.
For purposes of this rule, the phrase ''practice of law'' is defined as engaging in any of the following legal activities, provided such activities were performed in a state in which the applicant was admitted to practice law or in a state that affirmatively permitted such activity by a lawyer not admitted to practice law in the jurisdiction:
* * * * * (vii) [Service] Performing legal functions while serving on active duty in the United States military service as a judge advocate as defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 801, as amended.
* * * * *
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1819. Filed for public inspection October 28, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
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