APR 3 Admission to Practice Law In Washington

In order to be admitted to practice law in Washington and become a member of the WSBA, it is necessary to apply for, take and pass the Washington State Bar Examination. All persons, including lawyers licensed in most other jurisdictions, must apply for, take and pass the examination to be admitted. Please see the Bar Exam page for more information.

Admission Requirements in Addition to the Examination

Character and Fitness

All applicants are subject to a character and fitness review prior to being allowed to sit for the Washington Bar Examination or admitted to the Washington State Bar Association. The practice of law is a privilege, not a right. Permission to sit for the bar examination may be withheld pending a hearing before the Character and Fitness Board. In very rare cases, applicants may be seated without the character and fitness decision if necessary; however, examination results will not be available until the decision is received. Also, the Board of Governors reserves the right for further evaluation based on all factors, including character and fitness, before making a recommendation to the Court. If there is an issue, we will contact you.

Mandatory Pre-Admission Education Program

All applicants must complete a mandatory preadmission education program prior to admission. After an applicant passes the bar examination, the applicant must complete a no-cost, four-hour education program prior to admission. The program is available on the WSBA website: (mandatory pre-admission). The program must be completed after passing the bar examination and prior to admission. Also, reciprocity applicants who are not required to take the bar examination must complete the program before admission.

Oath of Attorney

After an applicant passes the bar examination, the applicant must take the Oath of Attorney. Any judge who has been elected or appointed to an elected position within the State of Washington may administer the Oath of Attorney. Please see Rule 5 (c) and (d) of the Admission to Practice Rules. There are several formal swearing-in ceremonies sponsored by county bar associations; these are generally held 4-6 weeks after the examination results are posted by the WSBA. If an applicant requires an out-of-state swearing-in, the applicant, through the WSBA Admissions Department, must obtain an order from the Washington Supreme Court. Once an applicant qualifies for admission by either passing the bar examination or meeting the requirements in APR 18 for reciprocity applicants, information about the Oath and swearing-in ceremonies will be sent directly to the applicant once they qualify for admission. Applicants have one year from date of notification to complete the admission process.

Admission as a Lawyer and Member of the WSBA

After an applicant has met all the requirements and the WSBA has received the required forms, the Board of Governors will recommend to the Supreme Court the admission of the applicant to the practice of law in Washington. Applicants are not admitted until the Supreme Court signs an order of admission. Upon receipt of the admission order, the WSBA will assign the new admittee a bar number and mail a membership card and a certificate of membership. New admittees can expect to receive their bar cards within about three weeks of the swearing-in date.

Wall Certificate of Admission

You may purchase a wall certificate suitable for framing, approximately 16 1/2" x 13 1/2", by writing to:

Supreme Court of Washington
Temple of Justice
P.O. Box 40929
Olympia, WA 98504-0929

The cost is $25. Please enclose a copy of your WSBA bar card. It may take up to six months for the wall certificate to be completed.