Opinion ID: 2037155
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Heading: Does the Attorney Licensing Requirement Have a Regulatory Purpose?

Text: Individuals licensed to practice law in Iowa must graduate from an accredited law school and must demonstrate proficiency in the practice of law, either by successfully passing the Iowa bar examination or by demonstrating five years of legal practice in another jurisdiction. See Iowa Sup.Ct. Rs. 102, 107, 111. In addition, licensed attorneys must complete fifteen hours of continuing legal education each year to maintain their law license. See Iowa Sup.Ct. R. 123.3. Finally, lawyers practicing in Iowa must comply with the Iowa Code of Professional Responsibility; their failure to do so may result in a reprimand, a suspension of their license, or a permanent revocation of their license. See Cornell v. Wunschel, 408 N.W.2d 369, 377 (Iowa 1987) (stating that the code of professional responsibility sets the standard for an attorney's conduct in any transaction in which his professional judgment may be exercised); Iowa Sup.Ct. R. 118.10 (discussing discipline by supreme court). It is also significant that the underlying goal of the licensing and supervision of attorneys is to protect the public from the consequences of unqualified legal advisors. See Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. Lawler, 342 N.W.2d 486, 488 (Iowa 1984). These facts unquestionably demonstrate that the attorney licensing requirement has a regulatory purpose. Cf. Mincks, 611 N.W.2d at 277 (holding that grain dealer licensing statute has a regulatory purpose where the department of agriculture and land stewardship has general supervision over grain dealers and the purpose behind the statutory licensing requirement is protection of the public). We now determine whether the interest in the enforcement of the [contract] is clearly outweighed by the public policy behind the [licensing] requirement. Restatement § 181(b), at 21.