The Admission to Practice Rule (APR) 6 Law Clerk Program is an alternative to law school which can qualify you to take the Washington State Bar examination pursuant to the requirements of APR 3 (b) Qualifications for Bar Examination. It is a four-year program designed to supply a theoretical, scholastic, and clinical experience through the combination of work and study with an experienced lawyer or judge.
Qualifications
To qualify to apply for the program you must have good moral character; a bachelor's degree from a college or university based on a four-year course of study; and regular, paid employment in Washington state with a lawyer or a judge with at least 10 years of active experience who will be the primary tutor. You must find your own employment. Neither the WSBA nor the Law Clerk Board can assist you in finding an employer/tutor. Employment is a requirement to apply for the program and an important component of participation the program; you must hold qualifying employment with the tutor when you apply. Employment offered contingent upon enrollment in the program is not acceptable.
To Apply
Complete and submit an APR 6 Law Clerk Program Application with the $50 application fee no less than 60 days before a quarterly meeting of the Law Clerk Board. The Board makes decisions regarding enrollment at the meeting.
Meeting Dates Applications Due
May 10, 2013 March 11, 2013
August 9, 2013 June 10, 2013
November 8, 2013 September 9, 2013
Advanced Standing, Foreign Credentials
When you apply, you may petition for Advanced Standing in the program based on law school courses completed. The courses may be from either an approved or unapproved law school, but only law school courses may be considered. Neither undergraduate or paralegal courses, nor employment experience may be considered. If you have completed undergraduate studies and/or law school in a foreign country, you should provide an education credential evaluation report.
Enrollment
The Law Clerk Board makes determinations on enrollment and Advanced Standing in the program. If you are enrolled, you must pay a $1,500 fee each year. The Law Clerk Board and WSBA staff monitor participation in the program but the law clerk and tutor study independently as they complete the course of study required by the regulations. The law clerk must spend a minimum of 30 hours each week performing the duties of a law clerk, which includes work and study. The tutor is required to give at least three hours each week of personal supervision to the law clerk, which includes exposition and discussion of the law, the recitation of cases, and the critical analysis of the law clerk's written assignments.
Limitations
You do not earn a a J.D. degree by completing the Law Clerk Program and the program is not accredited by the American Bar Association. It meets the requirements for admission to the practice of law in Washington State only and may not satisfy requirements for admission in other states; admission requirements are established on a state by state basis. For more information about other state’s requirements, contact the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Questions about the Law Clerk Program?
Contact Talia Clever at taliac@wsba.org
206-239-2112
800-945-WSBA, ext. 2112