Chap. 321.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 3191 of the code of Vir-
ginia, as amended and re-enacted by an act approved February 2, 1892,
and by an act approved January 11, 1896, relating to the licensing of per-
sons to practice law in this state.

Approved February 16, 1901.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
thirty-one hundred and ninety-one of the code of Vi irginia, as amended
and re-enacted by an act approved February second, ‘eighteen hundred
and ninety-two, and by an act approved January eleventh, eighteen hun-
dred and ninety-six, entitled an act to amend and re-enact section thirty-
one hundred and ninety-one of the code of Virginia, relating to the
licensing of persons to practice law in this state, be amended and re-
enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 3191. How a person is licensed to practice law; certain licenses vali-
dated.—Any three or more judges of the Supreme court of appeals.
voting together, may, under such rules and regulations, and upon such
examination, both as to learning and character, as may be prescribed by
the said court, grant to any male citizen over the age of twenty-one vears,
who has resided in this state six months preceding his application, a
license in writing to practice law in the courts of this state: provided,
said rules and regulations shall not deprive an unsuceessful applicant
at a prior examination from taking the next succeeding examination.
And it shall be the duty of the Supreme court of appeals, as soon as
practicable after the passage of this act, to make and promulgate said
rules and regulations, subject to the above provision. All licenses granted
or signed by any judge of the Supreme court of appeals of this state since
the fourteenth day of January, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, and all
licenses heretofore legally granted, shall be as valid as if granted under
this act: provided, the attorney at Jaw holding the same has already
commenced the practice of his profession, or shall commence the prac-
tice thereof within two vears from the date of the granting of said license;
otherwise, the said attorney shall not practice in this state without first
obtaining a license as provided by this act.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.