H-4138              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2967

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representative Winsley

Read first time 1/29/90 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to attorneys not currently licensed representing family members in legal proceedings; and amending RCW 2.48.190.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 4, chapter 126, Laws of 1921 as amended by section 107, chapter 202, Laws of 1987 and RCW 2.48.190 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) No person shall be permitted to practice as an attorney or counselor at law or to do work of a legal nature for compensation, or to represent himself or herself as an attorney or counselor at law or qualified to do work of a legal nature, unless he or she is a citizen of the United States and a bona fide resident of this state and has been admitted to practice law in this state:  PROVIDED, That any person may appear and conduct his or her own case in any action or proceeding brought by or against him or her, or may appear in his or her own behalf in the small claims department of the district court:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That an attorney of another state may appear as counselor in a court of this state without admission, upon satisfying the court that his or her state grants the same right to attorneys of this state.

(2) A person who is or was a licensed attorney in another state but is not currently licensed in this state or a person who was a licensed attorney in this state but is not currently licensed in this state may represent his or her spouse and his or her natural or adopted children in any legal proceeding in this state if the services are performed without compensation and the person has not been prohibited from practicing law in any jurisdiction as a result of disciplinary action taken against him or her.  Such a person shall not be required to pay a fee in order to represent his or her family members.