South Dakota § 16-16A-4 - Participant admission to practice--Eligibility.

§ 16-16A-4. Participant admission to practice--Eligibility.

Notwithstanding § 16-16-6, an applicant may obtain admission to practice as an attorney in this state through the public service pathway program if the applicant:

1.    Meets the requirements set forth in § 16-16-2;

2.    Complies with the criminal background investigation as required by § 16-16-2.6;

3.    Provides evidence of graduation from the law school;

4.    Provides evidence of successful completion of the public service pathway bar admission program through the law school;

5.    Provides a portfolio of work demonstrating minimum competence to the satisfaction of the board;

6.    Demonstrates competence in Indian law either through successful completion of a board-approved Indian law course at the law school with the testing option or successful completion of a one-question examination on Indian law offered by the board following an applicant’s successful completion of the program;

7.    Achieves a score of 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam; and

8.    Commits to providing at least two years of public service.

Source: SL 2025, ch 227 (Supreme Court Rule 25-01), eff. Feb. 21, 2025.

Commission Note: This section is effective until February 21, 2030, per § 16-16A-12.