Can a graduate from law school who is not a citizen—and who is not here legally—be admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania assuming all other aspects of their character are good?
Samuel C. Stretton.
The answer is yes. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court by order dated Feb. 8, 2019, amended Rule 202 of the Bar Admission Rules in Pennsylvania. This rule was a result of a study by the Board of Law Examiners and by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The catalyst was a case in the last year where the Board of Law Examiners admitted a young lawyer who graduated from a law school in Pennsylvania, who was not a citizen, and did not have a valid visa. He had come to the United States as a young child with his parents and had lived in the United States since. He was in the category of what is called DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). After an extensive hearing and argument, the Board of Law Examiners admitted him and he is currently practicing law.
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