IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO NEW APR 18 (PUBLISHED FOR COMMENT AS NEW APR 17)

) )))

ORDER NO. 25700-A-662

The Washington State Bar Association having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendment to New APR 18 (published for comment as New APR 17), and the Court having considered the proposed amendment and comments submitted thereto and having determined that the proposed amendment will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice;

Now, therefore, it is hereby

ORDERED:

(a) That the amendment as attached hereto is adopted.

(b) That the amendment will be published in the Washington Reports and become effective upon publication.

DATED at Olympia, Washington this 2nd day of September, 1999.

	Guy, C. J.
Smith, J.	Madsen, J.
Johnson, J.	Sanders, J.
Talmadge, J.	Ireland, J.

(a) Purpose. This rule prescribes the procedure, conditions and limitations for admission of lawyers from other states or territories of the United States or the District of Columbia, except as provided in rule 3. Lawyers from other states or territories or the District of Columbia will be admitted in Washington pursuant to this rule under procedures and conditions that, in the judgment of the Washington State Supreme Court, are substantially similar to the procedures and conditions under which the other licensing state or territory or the District of Columbia allows the admission of licensed Washington lawyers to their states.

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

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

(iii) 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 Lawyer Discipline, 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 brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office