Licensure Pathways Steering Committee
The Washington Supreme Court in March 2024 adopted in concept recommendations of the Washington Bar Licensure Task Force for creating additional pathways for license to practice law in Washington. Pathways include law apprenticeship, law-school experiential pathways, new rules for APR 6 law clerk apprenticeship, and alternative assessments and interventions. The Supreme Court then directed the Washington State Bar Association to convene the Licensure Pathways Steering Committee to propose rule changes and identify next steps necessary to implement the recommendations.
The Steering Committee's role is to provide high-level direction and decision-making to implement a new licensure process. Subcommittees created by the Steering Committee conduct research and draft specific policies. The Steering Committee exercises final authority to approve or reject subcommittee proposals.
Steering Committee Members
The Licensure Pathways Steering Committee is composed of the following 18 people drawn from entities and communities affected by new pathways to lawyer licensing in Washington state:
Tom Ahearne, WSBA Board of Governors Jordan Couch, WSBA Board of Governors Greg Crowder, Law Student, Seattle University School of Law Alfredo González Benítez, Consumer Protection Representative Judge Cathy Helman, Board of Bar Examiners Vivian Hernández, Law Student, University of Washington School of Law Dusty Weber LaMay, Access to Justice Dr. Lori Larsen, Character and Fitness Board Dean Tamara Lawson, University of Washington School of Law | Julia McGann, Consumer Protection Representative Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Washington Supreme Court Terra Nevitt, WSBA Executive Director Judge Leone Reinbold, Law Clerk Board Professor Zaida Rivera, Committee Chair Dean Jacob Rooksby, Gonzaga Law School Serena Sayani, At-Large Member Yuriko Hannali Styles, Law Clerk Dean Anthony Varona, Seattle University Law School |
Resources
Washington Bar Licensure Task Force
Washington Supreme Court Order on Task Force Recommendations
New Pathways to Lawyer Licensure, Washington State Bar News, July 10, 2024
New Pathways to Lawyer Licensure: Part II, Washington State Bar News, Sept.11, 2024
Gateway Evolution: Introducing the NextGen Bar Exam, Bar News, Nov. 16, 2023
In Support of Other Options in Addition to the Bar Exam, Bar News Column by WSBA Gov. Jordan Couch, Nov. 16, 2023
A Deep Dive Into Bar Admission Processes, Bar News Column by WSBA Executive Director Terra Nevitt, Nov.16, 2023
The Bar Exam: An Urgent Need for Alternative Pathways to Licensure, Washington State Bar News, Nov. 16, 2023
Reflections on the Bar Exam: The Only Indicator of Competence? Bar News Column by WSBA Executive Director Terra Nevitt, Nov. 9, 2022
Contact Us
For questions or to send comments, please email Chief Regulatory Counsel Renata de Carvalho Garcia or Assistant General Counsel Catherine Schur.
