HB677 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joseph C. Mitchell

Democrat

Co-Sponsor

Mary Moore

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Legislature, attorneys elected to forfeit licenses, relicensing requirements

Summary

This bill would require lawyers who are elected to the Alabama Legislature to forfeit their law license while in office and, after leaving, to retake the bar exam and complete CLE to regain relicensing.

What This Bill Does

It adds a rule that an attorney elected to the Legislature must immediately give up their Alabama State Bar license. It also allows, after they leave the Legislature, for those former lawmakers to retake the bar exam and complete at least 24 hours of continuing legal education in order to be relicensed. This changes the current law, which does not require forfeiture of the license for legislators who are lawyers. The bill specifically ties licensure status to service in the Legislature and relicensing after leaving office.

Who It Affects

• Attorneys elected to the Alabama Legislature would have to forfeit their Alabama State Bar license for the duration of their term and could not practice law while serving.
• Former legislators who want to practice law again would be able to regain licensure by retaking the bar exam and completing at least 24 hours of continuing legal education after leaving office.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(a): Immediately upon election to the Legislature, an attorney must forfeit their Alabama State Bar license to practice law in the state.
• Section 1(b): A member who forfeited the license and is no longer serving may retake and pass the Alabama State Bar examination and complete 24 hours or more of continuing legal education for relicensure as an attorney in the state.
• Section 2: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Legislature