IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO APR 5 AND APR 18

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ORDER NO. 25700-A-800

     The Washington State Bar Association having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendments to APR 5 and APR 18, and a majority of the Court having approved the proposed amendments for publication;

     Now, therefore, it is hereby

     ORDERED:

     (a) That pursuant to the provisions of GR 9(g), the proposed amendments as attached hereto are to be published for comment in the Washington Reports, Washington Register, Washington State Bar Association and Administrative Office of the Court's websites in January 2005.

     (b) The purpose statement as required by GR 9(e), is published solely for the information of the Bench, Bar and other interested parties.

     (c) Comments are to be submitted to the Clerk of the Supreme Court by either U.S. Mail or Internet E-Mail by no later than April 29, 2005. Comments may be sent to the following addresses: P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, Washington 98504-0929, or Lisa.Bausch@courts.wa.gov. Comments submitted by e-mail message must be limited to 1500 words.

     DATED at Olympia, Washington this 2nd day of December 2004.

	For the Court
	Gerry L. Alexander
	CHIEF JUSTICE

Specifics for the program will be developed once the rule change has been adopted. WSBA staff will develop the curriculum, recruit faculty, and coordinate with other groups who are currently presenting similar orientations. The four hours of instruction will cover material in subject areas such as civility and professionalism, orientation to local practice issues and materials, basic law office and practice management, balance and lifestyle issues, and networking.

Materials will be prepared for all registrants, consisting of information relating to each of the subjects to be covered. These materials will be tailored to the jurisdiction where the program is being offered and will contain appropriate court rules, forms, and directories. It is recommended that attendance at the orientation should be in person, but given scheduling, distance, and availability factors, it is also deemed that viewing the program as an audio/video presentation will be acceptable.

An effective date of January 1, 2006, is requested for these changes.

     (b) Preadmission Education Requirement. Before an applicant who has passed the bar examination, or who qualifies for admission without passing the bar examination, may be admitted, the applicant must complete a minimum of 4 hours education in a curriculum and under circumstances approved by the Board of Governors.

     (b) (c) Order Admitting to Practice. After examining the recommendation and accompanying papers transmitted by the Board of Governors, the Supreme Court may enter such order in each case as it deems advisable. For those applicants it deems qualified, the Supreme Court shall enter an order admitting them to the practice of law, conditioned upon such applicants:

     (1) Taking and filing with the Clerk of the Supreme Court the Oath of Attorney within 1 year from the date the bar examination results are made public, except for good cause shown; and

     (2) Paying to the Bar Association its membership fee for the current year; and

     (3) Designating a resident agent if required to do so by section (e).

     (c) (d) Oath of Attorney. The Oath of Attorney must be taken before a judge elected or appointed to an elected position, sitting in open court, in the state of Washington. In the event a successful applicant is outside the state of Washington and the Chief Justice is satisfied that it is impossible or impractical for the applicant to take the oath before a judge elected or appointed to an elected position in this state, the Chief Justice may, upon proper application setting forth all the circumstances, designate a person authorized by law to administer oaths, before whom the applicant may appear and take said oath.

     (d) (e) Contents of Oath. The oath which all applicants shall take is as follows:

I, _______________, do solemnly declare:

     1. I am fully subject to the laws of the State of Washington and the laws of the United States and will abide by the same.

     2. I will support the constitution of the State of Washington and the constitution of the United States.

     3. I will abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct approved by the Supreme Court of the State of Washington.

     4. I will maintain the respect due to the courts of justice and judicial officers.

     5. I will not counsel, or maintain any suit, or proceeding, which shall appear to me to be unjust, or any defense except as I believe to be honestly debatable under the law, unless it is in defense of a person charged with a public offense. I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes confided to me only those means consistent with truth and honor. I will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement.

     6. I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client, and will accept no compensation in connection with the business of my client unless this compensation is from or with the knowledge and approval of the client or with the approval of the court.

     7. I will abstain from all offensive personalities, and advance no fact prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness unless required by the justice of the cause with which I am charged.

     8. I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay unjustly the cause of any person.

(signature)

     SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this _____ day of __________, 19__.

Judge

     (((e))) (f) Nonresident Lawyers; Resident Agent. There shall be no requirement that an applicant or a member of the Bar Association be a resident or a bona fide resident in the state of Washington. Every active member of the Bar Association who does not live or maintain an office in the state of Washington shall file with the Bar Association the name and address of an agent within this state for the purpose of receiving service of process or of any other document required or permitted by statute or court rule to be served or delivered to a resident lawyer. Service or delivery to such agent shall be deemed service upon or delivery to the lawyer.

An effective date of January 1, 2006, is requested for these changes.

     (b) Qualifications. Before a lawyer licensed to practice law in another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia qualifies for admission to the practice of law in the State of Washington, the lawyer must:

     (1) Present satisfactory proof of both admission to the practice of law, together with current good standing, in another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, and active legal experience as a lawyer or counselor at law at the time of the application;

     (2) Possess the good moral character and fitness requisite for a member of the Bar of the State of Washington;

     (3) Execute under oath and file with the Bar Association two copies of an application in such form as may be required by the Board of Governors; and

     (4) File with the application a certificate from the authority in such other state or territory or the District of Columbia having final jurisdiction over professional discipline, certifying as to the applicant's admission to practice, and the date thereof, and as to the good standing of such lawyer or counselor at law or the equivalent; and

     (5) Provide with the application such other evidence of the applicant's educational and professional qualifications, good moral character and fitness and compliance with the requirements of this rule as the Board of Governors may require; and

     (6) Establish to the satisfaction of the Board of Governors that the state or territory or the District of Columbia that licensed the lawyer applicant allows the admission of licensed Washington lawyers under terms and conditions substantially similar to those set forth in these rules, provided that if the state or territory or the District of Columbia that licensed the lawyer applicant requires Washington lawyers to complete or meet other conditions or requirements, the applicant must meet a substantially similar requirement for admission in Washington; and

     (7) Pay upon the filing of the application the fee established for such admission which shall be at least equal to that required pursuant to rule 3(d)(2) to be paid by a lawyer applicant to take the bar examination.

     (c) Procedure.

     (1) The Board of Governors shall approve or disapprove applications for admission of lawyers admitted to the practice of law in other states or territories of the United States or the District of Columbia. The Board may require additional proof of any facts stated in the application. In the event of the failure or refusal of the applicant to furnish any information or proof, or to answer any inquiry of the Board pertinent to the pending application, the Board may deny the application. Upon approval of the application by the Board of Governors, the Board shall recommend to the Supreme Court the admission of the applicant for the purposes herein stated. The Supreme Court may enter an order admitting to practice those applicants it deems qualified, conditioned upon such applicant:

     (i) Completing a minimum of 4 hours approved preadmission education pursuant to rule 5(b); and

     (ii) Taking and filing with the Clerk of the Supreme Court the Oath of Attorney pursuant to rule 5; and

     (ii) (iii) Paying to the Bar Association its membership fee for the current year in the maximum amount required of active members; and

     (iii) (iv) Filing with the Bar Association in writing his or her address in the State of Washington, together with a statement that the applicant has read the Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct, is familiar with their contents and agrees to abide by them.

     (2) Upon the entry of an order of admission, the filing of the required materials and payment of the membership fee, the applicant shall be admitted to the practice of law in the State of Washington as specified by this rule.

     Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above material occurred in the copy filed by the State Supreme Court and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

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