THE BAR EXAMINATION

Information and Instructions for the APR 3 Application for the Bar Examination

Examination and Investigation Fees

Student Applicants (not admitted in any jurisdiction): $460

US Attorneys: $735 ($485 + $250 investigation fee)
Foreign Attorneys: $985 ($485 + $500 investigation fee)

Repeat Examinees:
    Repeating both portions: Same as above
    Substantive Examination Only: $360
    Professional Responsibility Exam Only: $235

Non-refundable late Filing Fee: $285

Filing Deadlines

No exceptions will be granted to the filing deadlines.

If your application is not postmarked or received by the appropriate deadline, a late filing charge will be imposed. If you miss the late filing deadline, you will not be allowed to sit for that bar examination.

See the Bar Examination Deadlines & Schedules page.

Configuration of the Bar Examination

The Washington State Bar Examination consists of 24 essay questions, spread over two-and-one-half days. Each of the first two days includes three examination sessions of two hours and fifteen minutes. Each of those examination sessions includes three essay questions. The third day of the bar examination consists of a single two-hour-and- fifteen-minute session comprised of six short essay questions on the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct.

There is no multi-state bar examination (MBE or MPRE) given or accepted in the state of Washington.

Passing Grade

To pass the Washington State Bar Examination, an examinee must pass both the substantive examination (the first two days of the examination) and the professional responsibility examination (the last day). Each portion of the examination is graded separately. If an examinee passes one portion of the examination, but fails the other, he or she may retake the failed portion of the examination at the next regularly scheduled Washington State Bar Examination. Both portions must be passed within a 25 month period or the passing score will be lost.

Character and Fitness Screening

All applicants are subject to a character and fitness review prior to being allowed to sit for the Washington State Bar Examination. 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.

Regarding character and fitness decisions: In very rare cases, applicants will be seated without this report if necessary; however, results will not be available until the report is received. If there is a problem, we will contact you. Being allowed to take the examination in this situation does not mean that you automatically will be recommended to the Supreme Court for admission to the Bar if you pass the examination. The Board reserves the right for further evaluation based on all factors before making a recommendation to the Court. Applicants who currently reside outside the United States are advised to file early as late filing may cause a delay in notification of your ability to sit. If there is a problem, we will contact you.

Withdrawing from the Examination

For an applicant who is unable to attend the examination after having registered, there are two options: a transfer (to the next examination only), or receive a partial refund.

Requests must be made in writing, signed and received at least 10 days before the examination date.

Refunds

All or a portion of all fees paid are non-refundable. For all applicants there is a $100 non-refundable processing fee. If a written request to withdraw is received by the Admissions Department of the WSBA at least 10 days prior to the first day of the examination, the applicant may receive a refund of the fee paid less: a) the non-refundable $100 processing fee, and b) any investigation costs incurred by the WSBA (including the investigation fee paid to the National Conference of Bar Examiners for Attorney Applicants). The maximum amount refunded is $385.00.

Transfers to the Next Examination

Applicants may transfer from one examination to the next examination only. Applicants who wish to transfer must submit a written request at least 10 days prior to the start of the examination, subject to the following conditions:

(a) Any applicant transferring to the next examination must execute and file an application in the form prescribed by the Board of Governors and pay an additional non-refundable $250 processing fee at the time of reapplying. A supplemental application form may be used only for every other filing for the examination.

(b) No applicant transferring to the next examination will be eligible for any refunds unless they were eligible for a refund for the original examination.

(c) Attorney applicants requesting a transfer to the next examination are not required to repay National Conference of Bar Examiners investigation fees.

Special Accommodation Requests

Applicants with medical, physical, or cognitive disabilities may request that the bar examination be administered under special circumstances to accommodate their needs. These requests must be made in writing not less than 40 days in advance of the examination and must be supported by medical documentation. All determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. Special accommodation forms are available by contacting the Admissions Department at 206-727-8229, or by e-mailing maryb@wsba.org.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

QUESTION  A.      You must notify the WSBA Admissions Department in writing of any change of address.  Please indicate that you are an exam applicant.  If you do not have a social security number please indicate why on a separate piece of paper. 

QUESTION  B.      For investigation purposes and to research your law degree, we will need any other name or names that you have used. 

QUESTION  C.      Name all jurisdictions and courts in which you are admitted to practice law.  Include the date of admission and your current standing (continue on additional sheet if necessary).

QUESTION  D.      Indicate the date of graduation and the name and address of the law school from which you received your Juris Doctorate or Bachelor of Law degree.

QUESTION  E.      Answer completely and thoroughly, including dates.

QUESTION  F.       List personal residential addresses for the past five years (attach additional sheet if necessary). .         

QUESTION  G.      If yes, please describe the reasonable accommodation you request on an attached sheet.  Submission of confirmation of your condition from a Medical Doctor, Therapist, or Educational Specialist is mandatory.  You must also provide a description and documentation of the accommodations that were provided by your college or law school

QUESTION  H.      If yes, give full details on an attached sheet, accompanied with appropriate documentation including a copy of the charging instrument.

QUESTION  I.        If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.

QUESTION  J.       If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.

QUESTION  K.      If yes, give full details on an attached sheet accompanied with appropriate documentation including schedules showing debts discharged, any creditors objections, and order of discharge.

QUESTION   L.      If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.

QUESTION  M.      If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.

QUESTION  N.      This does include parking tickets as well as traffic violations.  You must include all information to the best of your ability.

QUESTION  O.      If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.

QUESTION  P.      If yes, please provide dates and results of that exam.

QUESTION Q.       If yes, please provide Legal Intern number

QUESTION R.       If yes, what was the date and capacity of your admission.

QUESTION S.       If yes, please give date of enrollment.

QUESTION T.        If yes, when, where, and what were the results of your examination?  If your results are pending from another state you must provide these results and your date of admission when known.

QUESTION U.       If yes, provide full details and relevant documentation.

QUESTION V.       If yes, give full details on an attached sheet, accompanied with a copy of the complaint(s) or grievance(s) and other relevant documentation

QUESTION W.      If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.                     

QUESTION X.       If yes, give full details on an attached sheet.

QUESTION Y.        Under what terms and conditions does the state or territory or the District of Columbia that licensed you to practice law allow the admission of licensed Washington lawyers?

PAGE 10:     MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED NOTARIZED AND SIGNED THIS PORTION OF THE APPLICATION.

 Please keep a copy of all  material filed with the bar for your record.

HOTEL INFORMATION

• Hotel Information
  

Shuttle Express has ground transportation from the SEA/TAC Airport to all Bellevue hotels listed. http://www.airportshuttleexpress.net.  Call in advance for reservations at (206) 622-1424.

You will have one hour to get your lunch, eat, and return to your seat for the next exam session.  Given the shortage of convenient dining facilities in the area, you may want to bring a sack lunch.  Ask your hotel upon check-in for the availability of packed lunches and early breakfast service.  At the exam, coffee, tea, and juice are provided throughout the testing period. 

The last address you give the Washington State Bar Association will be used on all correspondence.  It is your responsibility to notify the Bar, IN WRITING, (signature required) of address changes.  Our responsibility ceases when correspondence is directed to the address as it appears on our records. 

Not providing the WSBA with a current address may delay the receipt of results, request forms, or other key information.  No exceptions are made for missed deadlines due to outdated address information.  

You may submit the form below or a personal written request (signature required) for notifying the WSBA of an address change. 

ALL ADDRESS CHANGES MUST BE MADE IN WRITING!
NO CHANGES WILL BE MADE BY PHONE OR E-MAIL
YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED