Pathways to Licensure Steering Committee

The Washington Supreme Court on March 15, 2024, adopted in concept the recommendations of the Washington Bar Licensure Task Force regarding graduate apprenticeship, law school experiential pathways, APR 6 law clerk apprenticeship, alternative assessments and interventions, and reciprocity for candidates from certain other states. The Washington Supreme Court directed the Washington State Bar Association to convene a Pathways to Licensure Steering Committee to propose rule changes and identify next steps necessary to implement the recommendations. The Steering Committee is composed of 17 people drawn from the entities and communities impacted by new pathways to lawyer licensing Washington state.

The role of the Steering Committee is to provide high-level direction and decision-making for the implementation process. The Steering Committee will create subcommittees to conduct research and draft specific policies, select subcommittee members, and monitor subcommittee activities as liaisons. The Steering Committee will have the final authority to approve or reject subcommittee proposals.

Members of the Steering Committee are being selected. The 18 members will include:

• A representative of the Washington Supreme Court
• Deans of each of Washington’s three law schools — Gonzaga University School of Law, Seattle University School of Law, and University of Washington School of Law
• WSBA Executive Director Terra Nevitt
• A representative of the Washington Board of Bar Examiners
• Two members of the WSBA Board of Governors
• A representative of the WSBA Law Clerk Board admitted to practice law through the APR6 Law Clerk Program
• A member of the WSBA Character and Fitness Board
• Two students currently attending a Washington law school
• A current participant in the WSBA Law Clerk Program
• Two positions for individuals with significant experience as a legal consumer or in the consumer protection practice area
• One position for an individual with access to justice experience (to be nominated by the Access to Justice Board).
• Two at-large members licensed to practice law in Washington

For questions or to send comments, please email WSBA Executive Director Terra Nevitt or Chief Regulatory Counsel Renata de Carvalho Garcia.