Evening star., 1946-01-20
Medley Drafting
Aid 10 Veterans
In Joining Bar
D. c. Law Graduates
Would Benefit Under
Proposed Measure
BY ALEX r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Corresnnndent

RICHMOND, Va, Jen. I9.-Vet-
Grams with proper qualifications but
unable to gain immediate admit
tance to the Virginia bar would
benefit under legislation being pre-
pared by Senator William D. Med
ley OF Arlington for submission to
the General Assembly.
To qualify now a person who docs
not want to take the State bar ex-
animation must be a member in
good standing of the bar of another
jurisdiction having reciprocal ar
rangements with Virginia and must
nave been admitted three years
previously to the court of last re-
sort of the other jurisdiction.
Such requirements have blocked
law school graduates of the District
and other areas who are members
OF other bars but, because of ex-
tended service in the armed forces.
cannot lay claim to sufficient ex-
perience in the higher courts of
their own Jurisdictions.
Change Proposed.
Senator Medley proposes to waise
the requirement that honorably dis
charged veterans must have had
practlcing privileges for three years
IN the highest court in their areas
before applying for admittance to
the Virginia bar. However, he would
retain the proviso that they at least
be members of a high court of an
other area at the time they seek
admittance to the Virginia bar.
Senator Medley's plan is designed
In no way to lower the present
standards for admission to the Vir-
ginia bar, he said.
He has in mind, he said, number /
of men who were graduated from
District law schools and who were
admitted to the District bar, but
either were drafted or entered the
armed forces before they could be
admitted to the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia.
The highest court requirement is
designed to safeguard Virginia s
present standards for admission. he
said. No one may be a member |
of such courts when not in good
standing with any lesser court. he
explained. Any one benefiting un-
der the proposed change must have
been bona flde resident of Virginia
for at least one year before entering
the service
Review Rights Retained.
Such applicants would have had
to be members of the District or
State bars for at least three years,
however, as at present. Their appli-
cations also would continue to be
subject to review by the National
Conference of Bar Examiners.
Senator Medley said many of the
Virginia lawyers educated in Wash
ington passed the District bar very
soon, after graduation and that
number of these would be at a dis
advantage if now required to take
the Virginia bar examination after
three years in the service.
Practically all members of the
Northern Virginia delegation have
returned to their homes in perhaps
the final three-day week end recess
for the House during the current /
session. The Senate met for eight |
minutes yesterday before adjourn !
ment. Both houses will return |
Monday and meet Jointly to hear |
Gov. Tuck outline his legislative |
program which is expected to offer
no se>ious conflict with the aims
proposed by former Gov Darden
Clarke Returns.
Senator Andrew w. Clarke, Alex
andria, Fairfax and Prince William, |
was among those returning home
to confer with constituents with |
respect to local legislation. Among
items he was to take up in Alex
andria today was a retirement plan |
for city employees and front foot
age assessment plan for sidewalks,
curbs and cutters
Senator Clarke's4 proposals have
been requested by the Alexandria |
City Council. The front footage as
Sessment plan was requested on
December IL and would be incor-
porated in a city charter amend |
ment.
He was to meet today with Sergt. |
George Everly. president of the
Alexandria Police Benefit Associa-
ton, and City Attorney Joseph Pan
coast with respect to the retirement
plan for city employees In 1910, |
while a member of the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors, he
prepared a police retirement plan
for adoption by the Assembly and
he said the Alexandria system prob
ably will incorporate many of its