Citizenship Residence-Age-Character One applying for admission in the Territory of Alaska must show by his petition that he is a citizen of the United States, a resident of the district and over the age of twenty-one years, all of which may be proved by his own affidavit. He must also show that he is a person of good moral character, which may be proved by the affidavit of at least two residents of good standing of the division wherein the application is made, which proof must be satisfactory to the court. Application-With Whom Made Application, accompanied by the affidavits mentioned above and below, must be filed with the clerk of the District Court of the Division wherein the application is made. General Education Applicants for admission to the Bar must possess a preliminary education other than legal equivalent to that involved in the completion of a resident high school course of at least four years; applicants not furnishing satisfactory proof of such qualifications shall be subject to written tests before the Board of Examiners on the subjects ordinarily pursued in a high school course of four years. Term of Study Applicant must show that he has studied law for two years in an approved full time law school, requiring an average of at least 10 hours instructions per week for eight months in each of said two years or in an approved part time law school, requiring at least eight hours of instructions per week for eight months for a period of four years, or he shall have served a bona fide clerkship in the office of a practicing attorney in the territory of Alaska, for a period of at least two years, devoting not less than thirty-six weeks of not less than two years, of not less than twenty-four hours to the duties of that position, and to his law studies, or he shall have pursued such stud ies partly in such law school and partly in the office of such attorney, and such studies must have been completed or terminated within two years of the date of the application. Each applicant for admission to the Bar shall be examined upon the following: Blackstone's Commentaries, Kent's Commentaries, Equity Jurisprudence, Evidence, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Torts, Statutory Construction, Pleading, Equity Pleading, Contracts, Code Pleading, the Codes and other laws of Alaska, as well as such other reading as the court may from time to time designate. Notice of Intention Any person desiring to study law in the office of a practicing attorney for the purpose of qualifying for admission to the Bar, shall before the commencement of his studies file with the Clerk of the District Court of the Division in which he resides, a certificate stating his age, residence, what preparatory education he has had, the name and the residence of the person under whose direction he proposes to study law and the date of the commencement of his studies and of his employment as a law clerk, together with a certificate of the person under whom the studies are to be pursued stating these facts and the date of the commencement thereof. Examination-Regulations-Scope-Fee The examinations are conducted by a committee appointed by the District Court. Applicant shall be asked questions on each of the above subjects, and shall be required to give written answers thereto. The questions and answers shall be filed by the committee with the clerk of the District Court, and if the applicant shall have answered correctly seventy-five per cent. of the questions, and not less than sixty-five per cent. on any one subject, he shall be certified to the District Court by the committee for further examination, which last-mentioned examination, orally, in open court, at a date to be fixed by the court, at which time the applicant shall be examined upon each of the subjects above mentioned, and not less than five questions in each of the subjects shall be asked him at that time, other than those asked him in his said written examination; and if the applicant shall answer correctly seventy-five per cent. of the questions put to him in his oral examination, and not less than six ty-five per cent. thereof on any one subject, and is otherwise qualified as to his general education and capacity, he shall thereupon be admitted by the court to practice law in all the courts of the territory of Alaska as an attorney and counselor. In case the applicant fails to pass a satisfactory examination as herein provided, he shall not be permitted to make application for examination again within a period of one year. A fee of $10 shall be deposited with the clerk issuing the license. Admission of Attorneys from Other Jurisdictions Whenever an applicant shall present to the District Court a certificate from a judge of the highest court in any state or territory of the United States, or from a judge of any of the district courts, circuit courts of appeals, or the Supreme Court of the United States, showing him to have been admitted to practice in such courts, and that he is in good standing, he may be admitted in this territory without further examination. The applicant must also file an affidavit that he has been duly admitted to the practice of law in such court and that he is in good standing therein and that there are no charges, affecting his professional character, reputation or conduct, pending and undisposed of against him anywhere. Admission on Law School Certificate Where the applicant has taken a full course of legal study in any accredited school of law, to be evidenced by certificate from such school, where the course of study therein is not less than two years and is equivalent to that provided for by this act, the court may order the examination for admission to practice of the applicant without requiring the applicant to prepare therefor as above provided, provided such course of study has been within three years preceding his application for admission. Certificate of Clerkship Any person taking up the study of law under the direction of a practicing attorney in this territory must file with the clerk of the District Court a certificate showing that he is about to begin such study, stating therein the initial date of said period of study and under whose direction he is about to begin the same, which said certificate shall be signed and sworn to by himself and said attorney. Source of Rules 31 Stat. p. 333, § 32, and page 448, §§ 733-736; Carter's Codes, pt. 3, c. 1, § 32, and part 4, c. 75; Territorial Laws 1915, c. 75; Laws 1923, ch. 25; Laws of 1921, c. 31 as amended by Laws of 1923, c. 101, as amended by Laws of 1925, c. 70, as amended by Laws of 1927, c. 59. ALASKA DECISIONS 1884-1932 There are seven volumes of Alaska Reports to date, covering from the organization of Alaska as District Court in 1884 to 1931. The earlier cases which arose in Alaska are reported in the Federal Cases and Federal Reporter. Write us for prices and full information regarding the Alaska Reports. Citizenship-Residence-Age-Character The candidate for admission to the bar of this state must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of this state, 21 years of age, and of good moral character. Application-When to be Filed Applications should be filed with the secretary, John L. Gust, Phoenix, Ariz., at least 90 days before the examination. Such application must contain statements as to the qualifications mentioned above and below; also as to present residence and place of residence during preceding ten years, place and character of scholastic or general education, and place and period of study of law. Applicant must also state that he intends, if admitted, to reside and practice law in this state. Term of Study No definite period of law study is now required. Examination-Regulations-Scope-Fee-Time Holding and Place of Two sessions annually are held at Phoenix by the Board of Examiners-one in November and one in May. Notice of the exact date will be given through the press of the state, or, upon request, by the secretary of the board. The applicant is required to submit to a written examination, and is required to answer correctly a minimum of 70 per cent. of the questions propounded, in order to entitle him to the certificate of the Board of Examiners. Examinations consist of 95 questions upon the principles of the common law applicable to Real Property, Torts, Evidence, Pleading, Contracts, Negotiable Instruments, Criminal Law, Equity, Probate Law, Domestic Relations, Carriers, Bailments, Equity, Partnership, Corporations, Constitutional Law (Federal and State), Mining Law, Irrigation Law, and a test of skill of research work which is considered the equivalent of five questions. Prior to examination applicants must pay to the clerk of the Supreme Court a fee of $10, and an additional fee of $10 must be paid on receipt of license to practice. Applicants who successfully pass the examination will be recommended for admission by the Board of Examiners, and admitted to practice Changes pending, consult secretary of Board of Bar Examiners. |