Bar Exam No Longer a Requirement to Practice Law in Washington State
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that the bar exam will no longer be a requirement to become a lawyer in the state. A timeline for this change has not been set yet.
Key Details: According to the ruling, prospective lawyers will no longer have to take the National Conference of Bar Examiners test to receive a license in Washington. The Washington Bar Licensure Task Force, appointed in 2020 to examine the issue, found that the exam blocks marginalized groups from becoming practicing attorneys and is "at best minimally effective" for ensuring competency.
Key Quote: "With these alternative pathways, we recognize that there are multiple ways to ensure a competent, licensed body of new attorneys who are so desperately needed around the state," said Washington Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis. The Washington Bar Licensure Task Force wrote, "In addition to the racism and classism written into the test itself the time and financial costs of the test reinforce historical inequities in our profession."
For Context: Oregon is also not requiring the bar exam, and four other states are examining alternative pathways to licensure (Nevada, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Utah).
How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum noted that the goal of this decision was to reduce barriers and promote the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Supreme Court: Bar exam will no longer be required to become attorney in Washington State![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left AllSides Media Bias Rating: Lean Left](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-leaning-left.png)
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The bar exam will no longer be required to become a lawyer in Washington, the state Supreme Court ruled in a pair of orders Friday.
The court approved alternative ways to show competency and earn a law license after appointing a task force to examine the issue in 2020.
The Bar Licensure Task Force found that the traditional exam “disproportionally and unnecessarily blocks” marginalized groups from becoming practicing attorneys and is “at best minimally effective” for ensuring competency, according to a news release from the Washington Administrative Office of the...
From the Center
Washington State drops bar exam requirement to reduce 'barriers' and inequities![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center AllSides Media Bias Rating: Center](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-center.png)
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Another morning, another pot shop burglary attempt in western Washington. Police are investigating after an apparent break-in at The Reef Cannabis Dispensary in Georgetown, near South Seattle College’s campus in the neighborhood, on Wednesday morning. A KOMO News crew on the scene saw what appeared to be a red pick-up truck left by suspects after backing into the pot shop. It’s unclear how many suspects there were, what time the break-in occurred and what, if anything, the suspects stole. ALSO SEE | SODO pot shop targeted by crash-and-grab burglars for...
From the Right
Why passing the bar exam will no longer be a requirement to become an attorney in Washington state![AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right AllSides Media Bias Rating: Right](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/bias-right.png)
![](https://www.allsides.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image_300x200/public/c701d38f-Seattle.webp?itok=58B7iTBd)
Prospective lawyers will no longer have to pass the bar exam to work in Washington, the state Supreme Court ruled in a pair of orders authorizing alternative pathways to licensing.
The exam "disproportionately and unnecessarily blocks marginalized groups from entering the practice of law" and is "at best minimally effective for ensuring competent lawyers," the Bar Licensure Task Force determined.
The Washington Supreme Court cleared the way for people to become lawyers in the state without passing the bar exam. The state will soon offer three alternative experience-based routes to becoming...
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