WSR 20-22-043
RULES OF COURT
STATE SUPREME COURT
[September 10, 2020]
IN THE MATTER OF SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO APR 3 AND APR 5 | ) ) ) | ORDER NO. 25700-A-1305 |
The Washington State Supreme Court considered the request by the Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) Board to change the requirement of a LLLT candidate to take the specific Paralegal Core Competency Exam cited in APR 3 (e)(3), to completing a LLLT Board approved paralegal certification examination instead. Further, the court reviewed the requirement to take such an exam prior to sitting for the LLLT exam and determined that the LLLT Board approved paralegal certification examination requirement should be required for licensure only. Because of the impact of COVID-19 and the pending deadline for completion of the LLLT requirements, some students may not be able to complete the paralegal certification examination prior to sitting for the LLLT examination. Requiring proof of completion of a LLLT Board approved paralegal certification examination prior to licensing, instead of prior to the LLLT examination, would assist eligible candidates in completing all requirements for LLLT licensure.
Having recommended the expeditious adoption of the suggested amendments, and the Court having considered the suggested amendments to APR 3 and APR 5, and having determined that the suggested amendments will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice;
Now, therefore, it is hereby
ordered:
(a) That the proposed amendments as shown below are expeditiously adopted.
(b) That pursuant to the emergency provisions of GR 9(j)(1), the suggested amendments will be published expeditiously in the Washington Reports and will become effective immediately.
dated at Olympia, Washington this 10th day of September, 2020.
| Stephens, C.J. |
| CHIEF JUSTICE |
APR 3
APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION TO PRACTICE LAW
(a) - (d) [Unchanged.]
(e) Qualification for Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) examination. To qualify to sit for the LLLT examination, a person must;
(1) be at least 18 years of age and
(2) have the following education, unless waived through regulation:
(A) an associate level degree or higher;
(B) 45 credit hours of core curriculum instruction in paralegal studies pursuant to APR 28 Regulation 3 with instruction to occur at an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school, an educational institution with an ABA approved paralegal education program, or an educational institution with an LLLT core curriculum program approved by the LLLT Board; and
(C) in each practice area in which an applicant seeks licensure, instruction in the approved practice area based on a curriculum developed by or in conjunction with an ABA approved law school, covering the key concepts or topics and the number of credit hours of instruction required for licensure in that practice area, as determined by the LLLT Board.
(3) present original proof of passing the Paralegal Core Competency Exam administered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.
(f) - (i) [Unchanged.]
APR 5
PREADMISSION REQUIREMENTS; OATH; RECOMMENDATION FOR ADMISSION; ORDER ADMITTING TO PRACTICE LAW
(a) Preadmission Requirements. Before an applicant who has passed an examination for admission, or who qualifies for admission without passing an examination, may be admitted, the applicant must:
(1) pay to the Bar the annual license fee and any mandatory assessments ordered by the Supreme Court for the current year;
(2) file any and all licensing forms required of active lawyers, limited license legal technicians (LLLTs), or limited practice officers (LPOs);
(3) take the Oath of Attorney, the Oath of LPOs, or the Oath of LLLTs; and
(4) designate a resident agent if required to do so by APR 13.
(b) Lawyer applicants. In addition to the requirements in subsection (a) above, lawyer applicants must:
(1) take and pass the Washington Law Component (WLC). The duration, form, and manner of the WLC shall be as prescribed by the Bar. The WLC minimum pass score is 80 percent; and
(2) complete a minimum of 4 hours of education in a curriculum and under circumstances approved by the Bar.
(c) LLLT Applicants. In addition to the requirements in subsection (a) above, LLLT applicants must:
(1) demonstrate financial responsibility pursuant to APR 28(I); and
(2) demonstrate completion of 3,000 hours of substantive law-related work experience pursuant to APR 28 Regulation 9.; and
(3) present proof of passing a LLLT Board approved paralegal examination.
(d) - (m) [Unchanged.]