What's happening
This bill allows certain out-of-state attorneys with accredited law degrees and New York externship experience to take the New York bar exam.
Why it matters
Expands bar exam eligibility for out-of-state attorneys. by allowing those with a juris doctorate from any regionally or nationally accredited law school (not just ABA-accredited schools) to apply, provided their school qualifies for federal student loans—potentially increasing the diversity and backgrounds of legal professionals in New York.
Requires practical New York experience. Applicants must complete at least a year-long externship in New York under the supervision of a locally admitted attorney, ensuring some direct familiarity with New York legal practice and oversight before sitting for the exam.
Could address workforce needs and access to legal services. by making it easier for qualified attorneys from other states or less traditional law schools to enter New York’s legal market, potentially increasing the pool of lawyers—especially in underserved or rural areas.
Places oversight and implementation with the Court of Appeals. , mandating that the court develop rules and processes for documenting externships and verifying qualifications, which may impact how quickly and smoothly the new pathway is adopted.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ease Bar Admission Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4275
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, QUART -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the rule-making power of the New York state court of appeals as to admission of attorneys and counsellors
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 53 of the judiciary law, as amended by chapter 450 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
3. (a) The court shall prescribe rules providing for a uniform system of examination of candidates for admission to practice as attorneys and counsellors, which shall govern the state board of law examiners in the performance of its duties. The court shall not by its rules cause to be barred from examination or, upon successful completion of the examination process, subsequent admission to the state bar, provided he or she shall otherwise meet any requirements for admission, any person who is currently admitted to practice in the jurisdiction of another state and has received a degree from a law school which qualifies such person to practice law in such state, other than a law school which grants credit for correspondence courses, provided that such person has been engaged in the actual practice of law in the state in which they are admitted for no less than five years.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the court shall not by its rules cause to be barred from examination, or upon successful completion of the examination process, subsequent admission to the state bar, any person who: (i) has successfully passed the bar examination of another state, (ii) has been admitted to practice and be in good standing in another state, (iii) has received a juris doctorate degree from a law school which is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04211-01-7
A. 4275 2
department of education whose scope of authority includes first professional degrees in law and which law school qualifies for participation in the federal student loan program under Title IV of the federal higher education act of nineteen hundred sixty-five, as amended, and (iv) has completed an externship in New York under the direction and supervision of an attorney admitted to practice law in the state, of not less than one calendar year, documented by log or other mechanism which the court shall establish, by rule, consistent with the provisions of this subdivision.
§ 2. The court of appeals shall promulgate rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, that section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.