Washington Bar Licensure Task Force

About

On November 20, 2020, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order to create the Washington Bar Licensure Task Force. The task force will assess the efficacy of the Washington state bar exam and related requirements for licensing competent lawyers and examine current and past bar examination methods, passage rates, and alternative licensure methods.

The task force will also assess disproportionate impacts on examinees of color and first generation examinees, consider the need for alternatives to the current bar exam, and analyze those potential alternatives.

Meeting Schedule

All meetings will be held virtually and available to watch live on TVW.

• October 11, 2023
• 1:30 p.m.
• Webcast

Please send feedback about the Task Force's recommendations to licensurepathwaysfeedback@wsba.org.

• MATERIALS
• Agenda
• Washington State Bar Licensure Task Force Subcommittee on
  Ethics/Character Fitness Report and Recommendations
• A Proposal for the Future of Washington State Bar Admissions – Working Draft


• March 17, 2021
• 2:00 p.m.
• Webcast


• April 22, 2021
• 2:30 p.m.
• Webcast


• July 19, 2021
• 10:00 a.m.
• Webcast

Task Force Recommendations

The Washington Bar Licensure Task Force recommends bar exam alternatives and more equity and clarity in the character and fitness process. Learn more in The Bar Exam: An Urgent Need for Alternative Pathways to Licensure — Q&A with task force co-chairs, Washington Supreme Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis and Seattle University School of Law Dean Anthony E. Varona.