Updated: April 20, 2023

Pro Hac Vice

If you are licensed in another jurisdiction and want to appear in a Washington State Court (municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts) in a particular action or proceeding, you may seek permission from the court to appear in that case. For administrative hearings, arbitration, and other matters held in Washington state but not in a state court, confer with the administrative hearing officials or arbitration provider to determine if pro hac vice admission is required. WSBA members, regardless of status, are not eligible for pro hac vice admission.

How to Apply for Pro Hac Vice Admission

Read Washington Supreme Court Admission and Practice Rule 8(b) for information about Pro Hac Vice admission in Washington. These procedures and Washington Supreme Court APR 8(b) apply only to Washington courts. To apply for admission to federal courts, please see local federal court rules and procedures.

Applicants are required to file with the court the original motion and proposed order. Use the form motions with proposed orders for the appropriate court level in Washington, as listed in the right column of this page. (The court does not need the cover sheet.)

The court will decide whether to grant the motion and the WSBA does not have a record of whether admission Pro Hac Vice was granted. Please contact the court for that information. The WSBA maintains a record only of the applications/motions for Pro Hac Vice admission. Applicants will not receive an acknowledgment or receipt from the WSBA.

File the following with the WSBA:

  • A copy of the motion.
  • The original Pro Hac Vice coversheet (also in the right column of this page).
  • A non-refundable $478 fee ($458 Pro Hac Vice application fee + $20 Client Protection Fund assessment) payable to the WSBA. You do not need to file a certificate of good standing.

Please Note: Our service provider will charge you a separate, non-refundable transaction fee of 2.5% on all bank card transactions. There is no transaction fee if you mail in a check.

Applicants may file with the appropriate court and the WSBA simultaneously.

Pay the fee for each lawyer on each case; e.g., applicants may file one motion to admit two lawyers Pro Hac Vice, but the fee will be $956. It is not necessary to pay another fee when appealing to a higher court in a case in which Pro Hac Vice has been granted, but it is necessary to file a motion. If a new lawyer is handling the appeal, a new fee is required.

Exception for Indigent Representation
The fee is not required for a lawyer rendering service for no fee in either a bar association or government-sponsored legal services organization or in a public defender’s office or similar program providing legal services to indigents and only in that capacity. On the pro hac vice cover sheet, you do not need to complete section four.  

Exception for Military Lawyers
The fee and associated counsel are not required for a lawyer who is a full-time active duty military officer serving in the office of a Staff Judge Advocate of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard, a Naval Legal Service Office or a Trial Service Office, located in the State of Washington, and who is not receiving any compensation from clients in addition to the military pay to which they are already entitled. On the pro hac vice cover sheet, you need complete only sections one and three.

Exception for Indian Child Welfare Cases (effective Sept. 1, 2018)

The fee and associated counsel are not required for a lawyer who represents a Native American child’s tribe in a child custody proceeding under the Indian Child Welfare Act. Please refer to APR 8(b)(6) for all the requirements to qualify for this exception. Lawyers seeking pro hac vice under this exception need only submit to the WSBA the pro hac vice coversheet and complete only sections one  and three.

Questions about Pro Hac Vice
If you have questions about Pro Hac Vice admission, contact WSBA Service Center at 800-945-9722, 206-443-9722, or questions@wsba.org.