The WSBA Board of Governors determines the Bar’s general policies and approves its annual budget
The agenda, materials, and video recording from this Board of Governors meeting, as well as past meetings, are online here: www.wsba.org/bog.
May 1–2, 2026
TOP MEETING TAKEAWAYS
Law Day: Calling All Legal Ambassadors (that’s YOU)! The Board commemorated Law Day on May 1 by announcing a joint campaign between the WSBA, the Washington Supreme Court, and the court’s Lawyers in the Classroom program. We are asking every legal professional to take a pledge to be in a classroom on—or around—Constitution Day (Sept. 17), bringing the nation’s founding document to life for the next generation of leaders. Take the pledge now, and we will wrap you in support in the coming weeks as you connect with a teacher and prepare to engage with students. “As a legal community, we feel deeply compelled to respond to a rise in civic cynicism, and one of the most meaningful and hopeful ways we can do so is by speaking to the next generation of leaders,” said Chief Justice Debra Stephens. “Legal professionals witness the Constitution’s real-world application and promise every day, and that’s the perspective we can bring to the classroom. We want every student to understand their power—because the Constitution and the future belong to them.”
- Take the pledge! Visit www.wsba.org/about-wsba/ambassadors/law-day.
Congratulations to Newly Appointed Officers and Governors. The Board selected District 10 Governor Nam Nguyen as incoming president-elect to serve as WSBA president for the 2027-28 term. Because no candidates filed in the recent election for expiring governor terms, the Board selected two individuals to serve in those seats until the next election cycle: Norma Linda Ureña for District 7-North and Qian (Sophie) Ying for District 8. The Board also selected Min K. Kang to fill the remainder of Governor Kari Petrasek’s term. She will vacate her District 2 seat in September when she becomes president.
Supporting Member Well-Being as a Strategic Goal. The Well-Being Task Force delivered its final report—a comprehensive road map for improving the well-being of Washington legal professionals—after more than two years of widespread research and surveying. The report highlights five areas of recommendation:
- Normalize help-seeking.
- Expand education and training.
- Improve access to resources and protect confidentiality.
- Build connection and mentoring at scale.
- Pursue structural and policy reforms.
Read the entire report at www.wsba.org/Legal-Community/Committees-Boards-and-Other-Groups/well-being-task-force. WSBA leaders will now determine how to implement the recommendations and then return to the Board with specific policy questions. The report makes clear, and Board members agreed, that one of the most important elements of implementation will be collaboration with legal professionals and different communities to ensure solutions are inclusive and well understood.
Local Hero. The WSBA named David J. Bentsen a Local Hero, an honor bestowed by the WSBA president in partnership with county bar associations to recognize colleagues who make noteworthy contributions to their communities. David was nominated by Chelan-Douglas County colleagues for his vital leadership role within the legal community and his prolific volunteer work, including with Chelan-Douglas Volunteer Attorney Services and the Wenatchee Valley Senior Center.
Regulatory Proposals Regarding Bar Exam and Admissions. The Board considered several recommendations to amend Admission to Practice Rules (APR) and WSBA Bylaws that relate to Bar admissions and licensing. The amendments seek to:
- Eliminate the expiration of bar exam scores and remove the requirement to pass the bar exam for a current WSBA member returning to active status. (Discussion and first reading.)
- Eliminate outdated and exclusionary language and reduce the active legal experience required for a lawyer from a common law jurisdiction to sit for the bar exam. (Discussion and first reading.)
- Amend the definition of active legal experience. (Discussion and first reading.)
- Change the definition of approved law schools. (Approved by the Board.)
- Adjust the application deadlines to administer the LPO exam on the first Monday in October and April and add one additional late filing deadline for the NextGen bar exam. (Approved by the Board.)
- Expand the pool of examiners on the Board of Bar Examiners from 50 to 75 members to support grading of the NextGen exam and portfolio review for the experiential alternative to the bar exam. (Approved by the Board.)
An Updated Professional Oath? The chair of the WSBA Oath Review and Drafting Task Force presented an interim report. The task force formed in July 2025 to consider the preadmission oaths taken by licensed legal professionals in Washington and, as appropriate, to make recommendations to update and reinvigorate the content of those oaths. To date, the task force has examined the history and content of the oaths, conducted surveys, and formed two subcommittees. Stay tuned for more information as the task force develops recommendations and seeks feedback from members.
SAVE THE DATE > The next regular meeting is July 24–25, 2026, in Tulalip. To subscribe to the Board Meeting Notification list, email barleaders@wsba.org.