In 1808, the First Session of the First Legislature of the Territory of Orleans enacted Chapter XXX, which stated requirements for residency, moral character, age, and examination.
"[No] person shall be commissioned or licensed to practice as counsellor or attorney at law, in any court of this territory, without exhibiting to the persons authorised by this act to grant licences, a certificate, signed by the judge of the parish in which he has habitually resided for the last preceding twelve months, or by the governor or first magistrate of the state or territory, or one of the superior judges thereof, where he may have resided as aforesaid, that he is a man of good moral character, and that he is above twenty-one years of age; and two judges of the superior court, where such a certificate shall have been exhibited to them, are authorised and requested to examine said counselor or attorney, and if (after examination) they are of opinion that he is duly qualified, they are authorised and requested to grant to the person a licence, under their seal and signature, to practice law in the superior and inferior courts of this territory: Provided That nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent any person appointed by the president of the United States, attorney for the United States for the district of Orleans, from practicing as counsellor or attorney in the several courts of this territory."
Section Two required the counselor or attorney to exhibit their license in each court where he intends to practice and swear or affirm an oath that he will due his duty to the best of his knowledge and ability.
