Chap. 414.—An ACT to amend and reenact Section 3409-a of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to the admission to practice law, with examination, of certain
persons. : (H 248)

Approved April 1, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section thirty-four hundred nine-a of the Code of Virginia
be amended and reenacted as follows:

Section 3409-a. Licenses without examination to certain persons
discharged or released from the armed forces.—The Supreme Court of
Appeals may in its discretion grant a certificate without examination to
any lawyer who submits evidence satisfactory to the court that he:

(1) Is at the time of his application and was for at least eight
years prior thereto a member in good standing of the bar of the State,
territory of the United States, or District of Columbia in which he is
entitled to practice ; and

(2) Is entitled to practice in the Supreme Court or court of like
standing of such State, territory or District of Columbia; and

(3) Has his application for a certificate to practice under this
section endorsed by two members of the bar of the city or county in
which he resides who are attorneys in good standing at the bar of this
State and who have been qualified to practice in the Supreme Court of
Appeals of Virginia for at least five years ; and

(4) Served in the armed forces of the United States between
December seven, nineteen hundred forty-one and August fifteen, nine-
teen hundred forty-five, was discharged or released from active service
but not dishonorably discharged from such armed forces, and was an
818. ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [va., 1948

actual bona fide resident of this State for at least one year immediately
preceding his entry into such armed forces.

The Supreme Court of Appeals may also in its discretion grant a
certificate to any lawyer who submits evidence satisfactory to the court
that he has complied with paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) hereof and has
passed an examination to he prepared and given by the State Board
of Law Examiners on the subject of practice and procedure in the
State of Virginia, and who also has

(a) Graduated from an approved law school,

(b) Been a resident of this State at least two years preceding
January one, nineteen hundred forty-eight and is now a resident,

(c) Certificates of good moral character signed by the judge of
the Circuit or Corporation Court of the county or city of his residence,
and also signed by the president of his local bar association and, if none,
then by two active attorneys in good standing in his community,

(d) Served in the armed forces of the United States on active
duty between December seven, nineteen hundred forty-one and August
fifteen, nineteen hundred forty-five, and was discharged or released from
active service with a discharge not dishonorable.

Any certificate granted hereunder shail entitle the holder, after
paying his litense tax, to practice in the courts of this State. Any. appli-
cation for a certificate’ made by a person who has been discharged or
released from the armed forces prior to the effective date of this act must
be filed within one year after such date, but any person discharged or
released thereafter may file-his application within one year after such
discharge or release.