Prospective lawyers in Washington may soon be able to skip the bar exam, after the state Supreme Court approved alternative pathways in an effort to boost diversity.
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.
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,' the task force wrote in its proposal for the change, released last month.
The goal was to improve trust in the legal profession, reduce barriers to entry into the legal field, and 'advance the cause of diversity equity and inclusion,' according to the bar task force. The justices approved three experience-based alternatives to the bar exam. Law school graduates can complete a six-month apprenticeship with an attorney and finish three state-approved courses.
Law students can graduate practice-ready by finishing 12 qualifying skills credits and 500 hours of work as a legal intern. Finally, law clerks who don't attend law school can become attorneys by completing standardized educational materials and tests under the guidance of a mentoring lawyer, in addition to 500 hours of work as a legal intern.
timeline has yet to be set for the change. So far, Washington is only the second state to officially approve alternatives to the bar, following Oregon, which is set to implement the change in May, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. Several states are considering a similar move away from the bar, including California, Minnesota, Nevada and Utah.
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