Lawyer Licensing in Washington State

Admissions

To be licensed as a lawyer in Washington, you must either take and pass the Washington State Bar Exam or be admitted through Reciprocity. Once admitted, you are a member of the WSBA. Please visit the Admissions Page for more information.

All applicants for admission must submit their address changes in writing along with their signature.

Annual Licensing

Each December (after admission to the WSBA), members will receive an annual licensing renewal packet. Newly admitted members will have their packets mailed to them in mid-January. The packet is mailed to the member's current mailing address on file with the WSBA, and includes all the required documents to be completed and returned by the following February. Click here for more information about licensing forms and fees.

Replacement Bar Card

To obtain a replacement bar card, contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-9722 or 206-443-9722 or e-mail questions@wsba.org. There is no fee. You should receive your new card in about one week. Photo bar cards are available for a small fee.

Special Admissions — Limited Licenses, Emeritus Membership and Law Clerk Program

There are several limited licenses to practice law available in Washington under the Admission to Practice Rules (APR). Limited licenses permit the practice of law only as defined in each rule and persons admitted to practice under a limited license are not members of the WSBA.

Information about each type of limited license is provided by clicking on the following links:

Emeritus Membership

APR 8(e): Exception for Emeritus Membership

Law Clerk Program

APR 6: Law Clerk Program

Special Admissions - Multijurisdictional Practice

RPC 5.5: Unauthorized Practice of Law; Multijurisdictional Practice of Law

Multijurisdictional Practice

Lawyers possessing active licenses from other states may practice law in Washington, within certain, if specific limitations set forth in Rule 5.5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.