The bill amends Section 602.10102 of the Code of Iowa to update the qualifications for admission to practice law. It emphasizes that every applicant must demonstrate honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and truthfulness, and must adhere to a code of conduct for lawyers as established by the supreme court. The bill removes the requirement that applicants must have "actually" graduated from a reputable law school and introduces an alternative qualification: applicants can also qualify if they have worked as an employee of the general assembly for a combined total of ten years in legislative research or analysis, or as a member of the general assembly.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the application form will no longer require a recent photograph of the applicant and clarifies that applicants cannot be disqualified based on age, citizenship, sex, race, religion, marital status, or national origin, although citizenship information may still be requested. The board will have the authority to consider an applicant's past record of guilty pleas and convictions for public offenses, and character references may be required, but these references are not limited to lawyers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 602.10102