Legal education

TO THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF 1
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF LAW, GONZAGA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, SEATTLE 2
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, EACH COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OF THIS 3
STATE, EACH COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENSE OFFICE OF THIS STATE, THE 4
WASHINGTON STATE OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENSE, THE WASHINGTON SUPREME 5
COURT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS, THE WASHINGTON STATE 6
OFFICE OF CIVIL LEGAL AID, THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR ASSOCIATION 7
LICENSURE PATHWAYS STEERING COMMITTEE, AND THE AMERICAN BAR 8
ASSOCIATION: 9
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of 10
the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, 11
respectfully represent and petition as follows: 12
WHEREAS, Legal education and practice opportunity programs 13
provide law students with valuable hands-on legal experience under 14
the supervision of licensed attorneys; and 15
WHEREAS, There is an increasing need for well-trained, practice-16
ready law school graduates to support the efficient administration of 17
justice, particularly in prosecution and public defense offices; and18
WHEREAS, Prosecuting attorney offices and public defense 19
attorneys play a vital role in the criminal justice system and are in 20
constant need of qualified legal professionals to assist in managing 21
heavy caseloads; and 22
H-2516.1
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4008
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Richards, Abell, Schmidt, Simmons, Graham, and
Pollet
Prefiled 12/11/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Civil Rights & Judiciary.
p. 1 HJM 4008
WHEREAS, Encouraging and expanding access to legal education and 1
practice opportunity programs would provide law students with 2
structured and immersive opportunities to develop essential 3
litigation, research, and advocacy skills; and 4
WHEREAS, The legal profession as a whole benefits from increasing 5
awareness of legal education and practice opportunity programs and 6
ensuring students are adequately informed and prepared to pursue such 7
program internships; 8
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the 9
Washington state bar association, the law schools of the state of 10
Washington, each county prosecutor's office of this state, each 11
county public defense office of this state, the Washington state 12
office of public defense, the Washington supreme court, the 13
administrative office of the courts, the Washington state office of 14
civil legal aid, the Washington state bar association licensure 15
pathways steering committee, and the American bar association, work 16
together to encourage and support legal education and practice 17
opportunity programs, including: 18
(1) The rule 6 law clerk program; 19
(2) The rule 9 licensed legal intern program; 20
(3) The small town and rural council; 21
(4) The rural defense public partnership program;22
(5) The central Washington hybrid hub program; and23
(6) All other relevant legal education and practice opportunity 24
programs offered by or promoted through the Washington state bar 25
association. 26
Your Memorialists further respectfully pray that the recipients 27
of this memorial work together to educate current and prospective law 28
students regarding these programs, encourage application for and 29
pursuit of such program internships, and provide students with the 30
opportunity to work part time or full time throughout the final year 31
of their legal education. 32
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 33
transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Washington state bar 34
association, the University of Washington school of law, Gonzaga 35
University school of law, Seattle University school of law, each 36
county prosecutor's office of this state, each county public defense 37
office of this state, the Washington state office of public defense, 38
the Washington supreme court, the administrative office of the 39
p. 2 HJM 4008
courts, the Washington state office of civil legal aid, the 1
Washington state bar association licensure pathways steering 2
committee, and the American bar association. 3
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p. 3 HJM 4008