NH HB1825

Establishes a 12-member independent Legal Licensing Board to regulate attorney licensing in New Hampshire, with members appointed by the supreme court, governor, speaker of the house, and president of the senate, replacing the current supreme court-controlled admission process

Creates multiple pathways to licensure: traditional law school plus bar exam, 4-year apprenticeship plus bar exam, direct examination with 1-2 years supervised practice, reciprocity from other states, and foreign legal education with additional requirements

Opens the bar examination to any member of the public regardless of age, educational background, or intent to practice law, allowing passage to be used as a credential even without seeking licensure

Eliminates mandatory bar association membership and annual dues for licensed attorneys, making the New Hampshire Bar Association a voluntary private organization effective January 1, 2027

Appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for FY 2027 to establish board operations, with the board required to become self-sustaining through fees by July 1, 2029; fiscal note estimates ongoing costs could exceed $1,000,000 annually due to parallel judicial branch systems