Updated: Dec. 19, 2025

Washington Supreme Court Order No. 25700-B-747

On December 17, 2025, the Washington Supreme Court issued Amended Order No. 25700-B-747  setting the minimum NextGen UBE passing score to 610 and reducing the minimum original UBE passing score in Washington from 266 to 260 for the February 2026 bar exam. In addition, the order provides that applicants who sat for a bar exam administered in Washington from July 2020 through July 2025 and who received a UBE score of 260 – 265 are eligible to apply for admission. Please see the announcement here or email admissions@wsba.org for more information.

 

Lawyer Bar Exam and Licensing

Washington administers the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) in February and July of each year. The two-day exam is held in Lynnwood and Tacoma, Washington. Candidates for the lawyer bar exam must meet all qualifications for taking the exam and are subject to character and fitness review.

 

Admission by Motion and UBE Score Transfer

Lawyers licensed to practice law in other states and territories of the United States may be eligible for Admission by Motion or by Uniform Bar Exam Score transfer to Washington.

  • Admission by Motion

    Admission procedures and requirements for U.S. lawyers with active legal experience for at least one of the three years immediately preceding the date you submit your application. .

  • Admission by Uniform Bar Exam Score Transfer

    How to transfer a Uniform Bar Exam score from another UBE jurisdiction

Limited Practice for Lawyers

Lawyers licensed to practice law in other U.S. states and territories or outside of the U.S may be eligible for limited licenses to practice in Washington.

  • House Counsel and Multi-Jurisdictional Practice

    Limited license to practice through Washington Supreme Court APR 8(f), and Multi-Jurisdictional practice through Washington Supreme Court RPC 5.5.

  • Pro Hac Vice

    The Washington State Bar Association's limited license for lawyers practicing in a particular case or proceeding.

  • Foreign Law Consultants

    Limited licenses for lawyers only licensed outside the U.S., to advise about the law of their licensing country.

  • Indigent Representation

    Represent indigents while waiting to take the lawyer bar exam, or while their application is pending for admission by motion or UBE score transfer.

New Licensing Pathways

The Washington Supreme Court in March 2024 filed two orders approving new pathways to lawyer licensure. Order 25700-B-710 adopted the NextGen Bar Exam starting with the July 2026 examination and it reduced the minimum UBE passing score in Washington from 270 to 266 for all bar exams administered from July 2020 through the implementation of the NextGen Bar Exam. Order 25700-B-711 adopted in concept the recommendations from the Washington Bar Licensure Task Force relating to graduate apprenticeship, law school experiential pathway, APR 6 apprenticeship, alternative assessments and interventions, and reciprocity. Learn more.

 

 

Please Note :

All applicants are subject to a character and fitness review prior to being admitted to practice law in Washington. Factors considered by Admissions staff and Regulatory Counsel when determining whether an applicant should be referred to the Character and Fitness Board are set forth in Admission and Practice Rule APR 20–24.3.

Any discrepancy or conflict between the information provided here and the rules and regulations set by the Washington Supreme Court, or the Bylaws and policies of the Washington State Bar Association, is unintentional and will be resolved in favor of strict compliance with the rules, regulations, Bylaws and policies.