Washington State Ditches Bar Exam Over ‘Racism,’ Offers Alternatives for Prospective Lawyers

Those who want to practice law in Washington state will no longer have to pass the bar exam, the state’s highest court ruled, in an effort to reduce “historical barriers” that nonwhite aspirants purportedly face. In a pair of orders handed down on March 15, the Washington Supreme Court approved three “alternative pathways to lawyer licensure,” making the state the second in the nation to move away from traditional testing for law graduates. One option is a new apprenticeship program for law school graduates who would work under the supervision of a qualified attorney for six months. During that time, the graduates must also complete three courses of standardized coursework....