Lex Aurelia de Collegio Iurisprudentium condendo (Nova Roma)

I. Our Nova Roman laws and legislation are of vital importance to maintain a historically accurate and inclusive Roman republic that values the mos maiorum and Romanitas. Our maturing society, although filled with many examples of subject matter experts, currently lacks the means to collectively educate and inform both citizens and magistrates efficiently on the comprehensive and often complex environment of Nova Roman legislation. This lex establishes the Collegium Iurisprudentium, a state-recognized institution dedicated to the study of ancient Roman law and the application of law in Nova Roma.

II. The aims of the Collegium Iurisprudentium are not only to educate on ancient Roman law and Nova Roman law but to also train and graduate both advocati (advocates) and iurisconsulti (jurists). The advocati shall offer free representative services to all citizens, particularly those facing legal proceedings. The iurisconsulti shall be subject matter experts and advisors to the Nova Roman government, magistrates, apparitores and private citizens who need guidance in understanding or interpreting Nova Roman legislation.

III. As confirmed through article III.2. of the lex Caecilia de collegis et sodaliciis, article III of the lex Cassia de creatione sodalitatum permits the creation of a state-sponsored collegium through the presentation of charter to a comitia. Presented with this lex, is the charter of the Collegium, version 2.0, so ratified by the founding members on the [insert date] ‡ M. Cotta C. Petronio cos. ‡ MMDCCLXXVII a.u.c., in accordance with the charter. This lex recognizes the first inaugural officers, as elected by the founding members, to lead the collegium through its first term. The first Magistri Collegii are D. Aurelius Ingeniarius and L. Papirius Cursor.

IV. Noting the significance of work and service the collegium will provide to the Republic, this lex leverages the extant laws on census points to offer additional census point awards to recognize service within the collegium. As permitted under article III.A.6. of the lex Arria de censu civium aestimando, the comitia is empowered to issue points for special positions, for new offices, or other positions not included in this lex Arria, as well as for special services performed. This lex hereby grants 1 (one) census point for each Class of Merit (defined in the charter) gained by a member of the collegium, with 2 (two) census points awarded for the final class obtainable, for a total of 6 possible census points. The system of merit defined in the collegium charter remains subject to audit of the censors and the Census Point Jury Panel of Quaestors under article II.C. of the lex Arria de censu civium aestimando should the charter undergo future changes. Provisions under III.A.7.f. of the lex Arria de censu civium aestimando remain unchanged in relation to the census point award for elected collegium officers.

V. Article III.D.1.a.ii. of the lex Arria de censu civium aestimando enables the award of census points for completing a course on Roman or Nova Roman studies held by Nova Roman educational institutions. This lex acknowledges the educational intent provided by the collegium, and hereby recognizes the Advocatus Development Program (ADP) and Iurisprudens Development Program (IDP), permitting the award of 5 Census Cultural Points for graduates of these programs. Graduates of the programs must present an artifact of course completion to the censors to receive these points. The course remains subject to audit of the censors and the Census Point Jury Panel of Quaestors under article II.C. of the lex Arria de censu civium aestimando. The collegium is required by this lex to produce evidence of the program taught, at the requests of auditors. A failure of which will result in the suspension of the award of census points until the program(s) are rectified to the satisfaction of the auditors.

VI. Any subsequent changes to the charter are to be approved by the senate.