Plain English Breakdown
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HB5465 • 2026
Allow anyone with a master’s degree to sit for WV Bar exam and become licensed attorney
Allow anyone with a master’s degree to sit for WV Bar exam and become licensed attorney
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-02-12
H
To House Judiciary
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2026-02-12
H
Introduced in House
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2026-02-12
H
To Judiciary
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2026-02-12
H
Filed for introduction
Official Summary Text
Allow anyone with a master’s degree to sit for WV Bar exam and become licensed attorney
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB 5465 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Introduced Version House Bill 5465 History | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 5465 By Delegate Dean [Introduced February 12, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary] A BILL to amend and reenact §30-2-1 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to admission to the practice of law; permitting persons with master's degrees, regardless of the course of study, to take an examination for admission to practice law in the courts of this state; and deleting obsolete language. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 2. ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW. §30-2-1. Certificate of good moral character; examination of applicants for license; licenses. Any person desiring to obtain a license to practice law in the courts of this state shall appear before the circuit court of the county in which he or she has resided for the last preceding year and prove to the satisfaction of the court, or to the satisfaction of a committee of three attorneys practicing before the court, appointed by the court, that he or she is a person of good moral character, that he or she is 18 years of age, and that he or she has resided in such county for one year next preceding the date of his or her appearance; and upon the presentation of such proof, the court shall enter an order on its record accordingly. The Supreme Court of Appeals shall prescribe and publish rules and regulations for the examination of all applicants for admission to practice law, which shall include the period of study and degree of preparation required of applicants previous to being admitted, as well as the method of examinations, whether by the court or otherwise: Provided, That the rules and regulations for admission to practice law shall provide that any person who has a diploma for a master's degree, regardless of the course of study, may take the examination for qualification to practice law in the courts of this state. And the Supreme Court of Appeals may, upon the production of a duly certified copy of the order of the circuit court, hereinbefore mentioned, and upon being satisfied that the applicant has shown, upon an examination conducted in accordance with such rules and regulations, that he or she is qualified to practice law in the courts of this state, and upon being further satisfied that such rules and regulations have been complied with in all respects, grant such applicant a license to practice law in the courts of this state, and such license shall show upon its face that all the provisions of this section and of the said rules have been complied with. Provided, That any person who shall produce a duly certified copy of such order of the circuit court, and also a diploma of graduation from the college of law of West Virginia University reflecting a date of graduation prior to July 1, 1983, shall, upon presentation thereof in any of the courts of this state, be entitled to practice in any and all courts of this state, and the order so admitting him shall state the facts pertaining to the same NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit persons with master's degrees, regardless of the course of study, to take an examination for admission to practice law in the courts of this state. Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added. Bill Status | Bill Tracking | Legacy WV Code | Bulletin Board | District Maps | Senate Roster | House Roster | Live | Blog | Jobs | Links | Home This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information. | Terms of Use | Webmaster | © 2026 West Virginia Legislature ** Print On Demand Name: Email: Phone: