PIERRE, S.D.(KYNT)- Representative Mary Fitzgerald of Spearfish has introduced a bill this legislative session that would do away with the bar exam for USD Law graduates.

House Bill 1073 would grant “diploma privilege” to graduates of the University of South Dakota law school.

Fitzgerald, whose husband is the Lawrence County States Attorney, says South Dakota has one of the hardest bar exams in the nation.

Fitzgerald adds that the bar exam is causing students to leave South Dakota.

In response to the recently introduced bill this legislative session that would do away with the bar exam for USD Law graduates, Attorney and State Representative Ryan Cwach of Yankton says the bill is highly flawed.

The bill, House Bill 1073, would grant “diploma privilege” to graduates of the University of South Dakota law school.

Cwach says he strongly opposes the bill.

Cwach adds that this would be very risky to the public if the bill passes.

Meanwhile, former University of South Dakota School of Law Professor Roger Baron has spoken out publicly in support of the diploma privilege bill.

If the bill passes and signed into law, USD Law grads seeking admittance to the South Dakota Bar would still have to be residents of the state, and they would still have to submit satisfactory evidence that they are at least 18 years old and are persons of good moral character.