The phrasing of Washington’s Oath of Attorney traces back to the state’s territorial days. This oath helped shape Washington’s Oath of Limited License Legal Technician. Responding to member feedback referencing these possibly dated aspects of our oath, the WSBA Board of Governors created a task force with two goals: 1. To determine whether the oath ought to be updated; and, if so, 2. To draft corresponding language and rule changes for consideration by the Washington Supreme Court.

Nested within these goals is another important consideration: Whether the oaths for attorneys, limited license legal technicians (LLLT), and limited practice officers (LPO) ought to be consolidated into a single oath for all legal licensees. We all serve Washingtonians with the same set of core responsibilities and aspirations—so, is it time to unite our oaths or are there good reasons to keep them separate?

Engagement and input from practitioners, the judiciary, and the public will play a critical role in the Task Force’s analyses, work product, and recommendations. Feedback from Limited License Legal Technicians, in particular, will help us determine whether and how to move forward in consolidating the oaths or updating the Oath of Limited License Legal Technician.

Please complete this short survey to help the Task Force understand your views about the current LLLT oath in particular and oaths for legal professionals in general. This data will serve as a foundation for the Task Force to begin its work, with more opportunities for feedback and engagement as the process continues throughout the coming months.

Please note: Many of the survey questions are optional, to give you the option of providing just the most foundational information or going deeper into your reasoning.

Learn more at www.wsba.org/oath-task-force.

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