All Or Nothing At All

The full Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied bar admission on a “provisional” basis

The petitioner, James Murray, also known as James Hines, appeals from a judgment of the county court denying his petition, filed pursuant to our equity jurisdiction under G. L. c. 214, § 1, in which he sought a “provisional law license.” We affirm.

The requirements for admission to the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are set forth in G. L. c. 221, § 37, and S.J.C. Rule 3:01, as appearing in 478 Mass. 1301 (2018). Nothing therein authorizes a “provisional” law license.  The petitioner apparently asks that he be permitted to bypass the requirements for admission to the practice of law and to have a “provisional” law license granted to him. There simply is no legal basis to grant such an extraordinary request. The single justice properly denied the petition.

(Mike Frisch)