FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2001

CONTACT
Judith Berrett, Director of Communications
206-727-8212
e-mail: judithb@wsba.org

Seattle, Washington, March 5, 2001 — The February 28 earthquake was an extraordinary event, particularly since it occurred during the administration of the Washington bar exam. The Washington State Bar Association, which administers the exam, made every effort to continue the exam as scheduled so as to cause the least disruption for those taking it. The Committee of Law Examiners (the body responsible for preparing and grading all bar exams in the state) has been advised of the earthquake’s occurrence during the exam, so that they may take it into consideration in grading the exam questions. At this point, we are unaware of any specific impact on the process. Every effort will be made, as always, to treat every examinee fairly and equally.

We have heard from a few bar applicants who were taking the exam at the time of the earthquake. One wrote: "I was extremely thankful for the calm and informative manner in which the proctors handled this situation. Many of us, especially those of us who had never experienced an earthquake, were quite shaken up — literally. However, the understanding and reassurances were very helpful in making a bad experience less stressful."

The Washington State Bar Association thanks the examinees, the staff of the Meydenbauer Center, bar exam proctors, and bar employees for their response to this unexpected event.

The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state’s 26,500 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member service activities.