Nine USD Law School Students Selected for Public Service Pathway Bar Admission Pilot Program
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 29, 2025
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us, 605.773.2031
Nine USD Law School Students Selected for Public Service Pathway Bar Admission Pilot Program
PIERRE, S.D.—Nine University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law students have been selected to take part in a new public service pathway bar admission pilot program.
This initiative creates an alternative route to bar licensure in South Dakota by combining legal education, practical experience, and a public service commitment without requiring the traditional bar exam. Law school students selected for the program must complete a minimum of two years of full-time public service employment upon admission to practice law in the state.
From 13 applicants, the Knudson School of Law in partnership with the host public service entities selected nine individuals to be the first participants in the pilot program. Participants have been placed to work with the following public service entities: Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office in Sioux Falls, Brown County State’s Attorney’s Office in Aberdeen, Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office in Sioux Falls, Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office in Rapid City, and the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Sioux Falls.
“This program reflects our commitment to shaping lawyers who are not only skilled and ethical but also dedicated to serving the public good,” said Knudson School of Law Dean Neil Fulton. “It provides an innovative, rigorous pathway to licensure that emphasizes real-world experience and professional responsibility. We are proud to partner with the South Dakota judiciary and local public service entities to help meet the legal needs of our communities.”
The host public service entities will offer a variety of experiences and opportunities for program participants to demonstrate competence in the law. Attorneys with the host entities will supervise, mentor and assist each participant.
Program participants will be required to submit a portfolio of work product during the program. The Board of Bar Examiners will evaluate the work product and perform a character and fitness review of each participant before making a recommendation regarding a participant’s admission to practice as an attorney in South Dakota.
The five-year public service pathway bar admission pilot program is administered through the cooperation of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners. The program is open to students at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and limited to a maximum of 10 students that meet specific criteria in each law school class during the pilot.
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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.