How to Apply for the Washington Bar Exam

If you are a recent law school graduate, you must take the Washington bar examination in order to practice law in Washington State. The Washington State Bar Association administers the bar examination in Bellevue, Washington twice a year. Because the test is only offered once in February and once in July, it is essential that your bar application is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner. The Washington Bar Exam Application consists of an Application, an Authorization and Release Form and two Certificates of Good Moral Character.

Instructions

1. Review the Washington State Admissions to Practice Rules and Procedures and the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct governing admission requirements.

2. Download a copy of the Washington Bar Exam Application and Instructions from the Washington State Bar Association website for free, or request a copy of the Application via phone or mail directly from the Washington State Bar Association for a nominal fee.

3. Commit your schedule to completing the application within the stated deadlines, as found in the deadline schedule on the Washington State Bar Association website.

4. Answer all questions in the bar application and its accompanying documents. Double-check the Application for errors and omissions.

5. Get the Authorization and Release Form notarized.

6. Ask two attorneys in good standing from any jurisdiction to complete and sign your Certificates of Good Moral Character.

7. Attach to your application the required application fee, one entire copy of the Application, two signed Certificates of Good Moral Character, and a notarized Authorization and Release Form.

8. Mail the Application well within the stated deadlines for the desired bar exam.

Tips & Warnings

• Applications may be typed or printed legibly.

• Law school transcripts are not required because the Washington State Bar Association Admissions Department collects law school graduation certificates on its own.

• If you wish to use your laptop for the bar exam, you must register it with the Washington State Bar Association and Examsoft separately. An additional fee must be paid directly to Examsoft to utilize the required software during the test.

• A separate character and fitness review is also required to sit for the Washington bar examination, and is conducted upon the receipt of your bar exam application.

• Keep a copy of the application for your records.

• Applications will not be accepted beyond the latest filing deadline for any reason.

• Late fees must accompany applications received after the regular filing deadline. A schedule of late fees is available on the Washington State Bar Association website.