Illegal Immigrant can be Lawyer in California

Many didn’t think it was possible while others didn’t think it should be legal. However, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law this weekend that means an illegal immigrant can be lawyer in the state if they are waiting to be approved for lawful residency in the United States and have graduated from law school and passed the California Bar Exam.

The Sergio Garcia Story

A new law passed in California means an illegal immigrant can be a lawyer in the state.

The legislation was pushed in September due to the case of Sergio Garcia, who had graduated law school and passed the bar while waiting to obtain his green card. In a previous post, we told the story of Garcia and his pending case with the California Supreme Court.

The California Supreme Court currently has this issue pending. However, the new law seems to make the courts future ruling irrelevant. Arguments were heard in September and it appeared as if the justices would adapt the federal standing that immigration law prevents Garcia from getting his law license. However, they also urged state legislators to find a solution to the problem.

Illegal Immigrant can be Lawyer in California

The new law means that immigrants who are not yet citizens in California who are in law school can continue to study and prepare to take the California Bar Exam. If they pass the bar exam (which is not easy to do), they will be sworn in as lawyers.

We would hope that many of these new lawyers would devote much of their efforts to fighting for more laws such as this to level the playing field for the hardworking Californians who are paying taxes and living honest lives.

Gov. Brown and the California legislature has to be given a very loud round of applause for having the guts to buck pressure from anti-immigrant groups to work together to make sure that this law became reality. Garcia also has to be commended for his efforts to spread awareness of his situation and pave the way for future immigrants to become lawyers. Wallin & Klarich will be proud to call Garcia “Attorney at Law.”