RULE 3
                     APPLICANTS TO TAKE THE BAR EXAMINATION


         (a) Prerequisite for Admission. Every person desiring to be admitted
     to the Bar of the State of Washington must be of good moral character
     and must qualify for and pass a bar examination.

         (b) Qualification for Bar Examination. To qualify to sit for the bar
     examination, a person must present satisfactory proof of either (i)
     graduation from a law school approved by the Board of Governors, or
     (ii) completion of the law clerk program prescribed by these rules,
     or (iii) admission to the practice of law by examination, together
     with current good standing, in any state or territory of the United
     States or the District of Columbia or any jurisdiction where the
     common law of England is the basis of its jurisprudence, and active
     legal experience for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding
     the filing of the application. "Active legal experience" shall mean
     experience either in the active practice of law, or as a teacher at
     an approved law school, or as a judge of a court of general or
     appellate jurisdiction, or any combination thereof, in a state or
     territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia or in
     any jurisdiction where the common law of England is the basis of its
     jurisprudence.

         (c) Exceptions. The Board of Governors may, in its discretion,
     withhold permission for an otherwise qualified person to sit for the
     bar examination, until completion of an inquiry into the applicants
     character and fitness, if the applicant (i) has ever been convicted
     of a "serious crime" as defined in ELC 7.1(a)(2), or (ii) has ever
     been disbarred or is presently suspended from the practice of law for
     disciplinary reasons in any jurisdiction, or (iii) has previously
     been denied admission to the Bar in this or any other jurisdiction
     for reasons other than failure to pass a bar examination. The Board
     of Governors may also withhold permission to sit for the bar
     examination where for any other reason there are serious and
     substantial questions regarding the present moral character or
     fitness of the applicant. The Board of Governors may refer such
     matters to the Character and Fitness Board for investigation and
     hearing pursuant to these rules.

         (d) Forms; Fees; Filing. Every applicant to take the bar examination shall:

          (1) Execute and file an application, in the form and manner and
          within the time limits that may be prescribed by the Board of Governors;

          (2) Pay upon the filing of the application such fees as may be
          set by the Board of Governors with the approval of the Supreme
          Court; and

          (3) Furnish whatever additional information or proof may be
          required in the course of investigating the applicant.

         (e) Disclosure of Records. Unless expressly authorized by the Supreme
     Court or by the bar applicant, bar application forms and related
     records, documents, and proceedings shall not be disclosed, except as
     necessary to conduct an investigation and hearing pursuant to rule 7.


     [Amended effective August 1, 1968; September 27, 1968; March 10,
     1971; July 1, 1976; September 1, 1984; May 10, 1990; September 1,
     1992; October 1, 2002; September 1, 2005; September 1, 2006.]