PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2025
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us, 605.773.2031
Supreme Court to Hold Rules Hearing on Proposed Public Service Pathway to Bar Admission Program
PIERRE, S.D.—The South Dakota Supreme Court will hold a rules hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, 10 a.m. CST in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the State Capitol, Pierre, to consider adoption of rules for a proposed public service pathway to bar admission program.
The Supreme Court in 2023 appointed a steering committee to examine the needs of legal providers, including the bar admissions process. In its final report, the Steering Committee recommended a streamlined pathway to bar admission for public interest. A committee was appointed to develop a program implementation proposal, which the committee submitted to the Supreme Court in December 2024.
This proposed program, administered through the cooperation of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners, incorporates a supervised practice program with the current character and fitness review process. If all requirements are met to the Board’s satisfaction and the participants commit to a term of public service, the participants would be admitted into practice.
Read the rules hearing notice.
Read the Implementation Committee’s Public Service Pathway to Bar Admission Proposal.
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About South Dakota Courts: The Unified Judicial System (UJS) consists of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts and State Court Administrator’s Office. The Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and final decision maker on South Dakota law. The Circuit Courts are the state’s trial courts where criminal proceedings and civil litigation are handled. The State Court Administrator’s Office provides centralized administrative assistance and support services for the South Dakota judiciary. Learn more at https://ujs.sd.gov.