Appeal to Reconsider AB 1522’s Federal Government Employment Restriction

Subject: AB 1522: Request for Broader Reciprocity for Experienced Out-of-State Attorneys

I am writing to respectfully request the removal of the requirement in AB 1522 that attorneys must be employed by the federal government in order to qualify for licensure without examination in California. This limitation undermines the principle that the bar exam serves as a measure of competence. It implies that attorneys licensed and in good standing in other U.S. jurisdictions are only competent to practice in California if they are or were employed by the federal government — an arbitrary distinction that has no bearing on an attorney’s qualifications or abilities. The bill notes that “in order to fill vacancies in vital legal positions throughout the state, including in public defender offices, it is necessary to quickly provide licensure for recently laid off federal attorneys.” However, by restricting eligibility to this narrow group, the state risks excluding many well-qualified attorneys who could otherwise serve the public interest in these roles — including those with years of experience in state government, nonprofits, legal aid, or private practice. California remains one of the few states that does not offer any form of reciprocity or licensure by motion for experienced attorneys. AB 1522 presents an opportunity to modernize our licensing framework and better serve the state’s urgent legal needs — but only if the bill is inclusive of all attorneys who meet the core criteria: a minimum of four years of active, good-standing licensure in another U.S. jurisdiction. Thank you for considering this request. Sincerely,