Generated

Tamara Lawson and other law school deans petition Washington Supreme Court for emergency diploma privilege after botched bar exam.

The University of Washington Law School Dean Tamara Lawson, along with deans from Seattle University School of Law and Gonzaga University School of Law, petitioned the Washington Supreme Court to grant emergency diploma privilege for law graduates. The request follows a catastrophic equipment failure at the Yakima Convention & Event Center that prevented hundreds of bar applicants from completing the July examination. Because the next scheduled test is not until February 2027, the law schools argue that a make-up test alone is not sufficient for graduates who have already invested in travel and lodging. The Washington State Bar Association is currently working with the test maker to schedule a make-up test for September. The Supreme Court holds the ultimate authority over legal licensure and previously granted similar privileges during the pandemic. The law schools seek to allow graduates to practice law immediately without requiring the successful completion of the first botched exam.

Sources