Q&A with three Law Clerk Program tutors
BY CHRISTELL CASEY
Washington’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program offers an apprenticeship-style path to the bar, but for many potential tutors it also surfaces a quiet set of fears about mentorship, teaching, and supervising a student.
What the Rule 6 Program Is
Under Admission and Practice Rule (APR 6), Washington’s Law Clerk Program is a four-year alternative to law school in which a law clerk works and studies under the direct supervision of an experienced lawyer or judge. Successful completion of the program satisfies the legal education requirement to sit for the Washington State Bar Exam, putting Rule 6 graduates in the same exam room as ABA law school graduates.
The program relies on an apprenticeship model that blends theoretical study, experiential learning, and clinical-style exposure through actual legal work.
As a nine-year member of the Law Clerk Board, I can tell you from doing outreach that I hear from attorneys all over the state that they like the idea of mentoring a student, but are concerned that they aren’t a good enough teacher, are too far removed from their own law school education, or just don’t think they have enough time.
Still, hundreds of attorneys take on the challenge each year and find it incredibly rewarding, personally and professionally. I sought out the wisdom of current and former mentors addressing some of these fears, in the hope that it will inspire more well-qualified attorneys (like you!) to take the plunge.
“Can I be an Effective Teacher?”
Many excellent practitioners do not see themselves as natural teachers. The APR 6 framework asks tutors to construct a curriculum comparable to a Washington law school program, deliver regular one-on-one instruction, and critically evaluate complex written work across areas of practice. For a busy practitioner, that can feel like being asked to moonlight as a full-time professor without training or support.
Jodi Hammond: Because I’ve only ever practiced in the criminal arena, the idea that I would have to teach topics I hadn’t thought about for years (property, contracts, civ pro) was very daunting. As we ventured into these areas, what gave me confidence was that I could set the pace of the learning along with my clerk. We chose the book, reviewed the syllabus, but then I could take the time I needed to refamiliarize myself with the topic as we worked through the syllabus together. It was also super helpful as we planned the year to know that I could ask for assistant tutors on any subjects that I felt were way outside my realm. Even though I hadn’t thought about contracts in a long time, as we delved into the text and worked through it together, I could re-learn along with my clerk. I didn’t have to be an expert because the point is to teach them how to learn about the law.
By referencing syllabi that have been crafted in the law school classes, some of the work is already laid out: How to break up material, which book to use, how much reading is doable in a week, etc. Our “classes” are very interactive. I let the clerk lead—asking what stuck out to them in the reading and briefing the cases assigned.
Jerry Gray: One step at a time. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I am in the middle of my second tour as mentor. [My clerk] is a great student, and we have collaborated on how to make the process work. I ask her for feedback as well.
We may not think of ourselves as teachers, but we do have experiences that can be meaningful to share. Some of your law school years will come back to you, and those stories can be educational. And keep showing up and being a resource for your clerk. They are doing the hard work; you are there to support them and help them along the way. That’s a big job, but breaking it up into month-to-month segments makes it doable.
“Has It Been Too Long Since Law School?”
Greg Casey: At the end of 1999, I was thinking about how to mentor under the clerkship program. I had been out of law school for almost 40 years at that time and had primarily practiced in civil litigation. What I did not know then is that when I ventured into each subject it was actually a fun challenge. I enjoyed reviewing what I had learned in my contracts course, criminal law, procedure courses, and constitutional law courses. I found that it gave me a fresh look at the subjects. I also found I had a lot of resources I could go to. I reviewed the course materials used at Gonzaga Law School. I also found I was not doing it alone. There were others who shared with me their materials and thoughts.
I was worried about several subjects I did not have any experience in. I had not handled a probate for over 35 years. When it was time for that course I met with an attorney friend whose practice included probate and estate planning. It so happened that a family member passed away. He did not have a very large estate so we decided my clerk and I would do the probate for him. The two of us reviewed the law, prepared the probate, and walked through the process of closing the estate. It was not only a learning experience but a way of helping someone who could not afford an attorney under the circumstances.
Gray: Regarding the subject matter, I reviewed the materials (sometimes a quick review) and prepared for class. I also leaned on my legal experience to fill in any holes for preparation. I also used my bar exam prep materials. I gave copies to the clerk as needed, and the summaries were helpful with preparation.
“Do I have the Time?”
Even for lawyers who are comfortable teaching, time is an ever-present concern. The Rule 6 program presumes a sustained four-year relationship with defined weekly supervision, layered on top of the tutor’s own client work and administrative load. Many attorneys, especially in small or solo practices, fear that the mentoring commitment will erode billable time, strain firm resources, or crowd out their own professional development. However, the investment can bring long-term rewards.
Hammond: For me, the decline of talented applicants in the job pool in our community has made it clear to me that the best way to find talent is to invest in our own people through the Law Clerk Program—we are making the talent for the applicant pool that has been lacking. While the investment is large, the payoff in the future—of having a talented, committed, and trained person who is already a part of our team—outweighs that time cost. It does take work, but some basic administrative functions make it really doable and totally worth it.
Plus: The result is an attorney who is already a part of your team when it’s a clerk from within your organization. You also get the joy of sharing a passion for justice with others who are on the same path. It’s actually quite fulfilling to see the light bulbs go on and have the excitement build.
Casey: At first, I was concerned about the time it would take, but I found it was very rewarding. I was working with my son so there were a lot of benefits to me as a father. However, I believe working with someone in this context, whether it be a family member or any dedicated and hard-working person from your staff, there is something very satisfying in influencing them to be the type of lawyer who would make our society better. It is a tremendous opportunity to impart not just information and experience to someone, but to demonstrate the ethical and cordial relationships that the practice of law demands. This can be taught in a course in law school but is much better learned in the actual practice of the daily stresses we face.
Gray: Fitting in preparation and class can be challenging. It’s like most things—finding a good rhythm and being organized, while also being flexible.
The clerk and I would have a standing time on Fridays for class, but the exact time would move around according to schedule. And the class length would change as well, dependent upon the assignment for the week.
“Is It Worth It?”
Casey: I can truly say now looking back over my 55 years as an attorney that it was one of the most satisfying things I did in my practice. I really want to encourage anyone thinking about it to do it.
Despite its demands, the overwhelming feedback I get from attorneys who have served as mentors is that the Rule 6 journey is one of the most deeply rewarding experiences a lawyer can undertake. Guiding a clerk from tentative first research assignment to confident, ethical practitioner invites you to see your own craft with fresh eyes and renewed purpose. The structure of the program forces you to articulate the “why” behind your instincts, sharpen your own understanding of doctrine and professionalism, and model the kind of judgment you want to see in the next generation.
Yes, it is going to stretch your comfort zone occasionally. But in exchange, you gain a colleague whose development you have personally shaped, who understands your practice at a cellular level, and who carries your lessons into every client meeting and courtroom appearance. At a time when access to justice and the health of the profession are under real strain in the state of Washington, accepting the challenge of Rule 6 is more than mentorship—it is stewardship. And for many attorneys, watching a former clerk step into practice is not just satisfying; it is one of the proudest moments of their careers.
DID YOU KNOW? > Per Washington Supreme Court order No. 25700-A-1696, effective Sept. 1, 2026, tutors are now eligible if they have been actively practicing law for eight (instead of 10) of the last 12 years, and are allowed to work with two law clerks at one time.
About the authorS
Christell Casey graduated from the Law Clerk Program in 2015 and became a member of the Bar in 2015. She has been a member of the Law Clerk Board since 2017 and is the current chair. She completed the Rule 6 Law Clerk Program while also being a mom to five boys! She practices family law in Spokane, loves to play league volleyball, and is the full-time emotional support human for her golden retriever, Taffy.
Jerry Gray was a Rule 6 mentor from 2017-2021 for Erin Kuns, who completed the program and passed the Washington State Bar Exam. He is now in his second tour as a mentor with clerk Emily Lyons. They are currently in the middle of constitutional law—part II. He practices in Olympia at Connolly, Tacon & Meserve.
Jodi Hammond is the chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney in Kittitas County. She has been a criminal prosecutor for 20 years. She is passionate about her community, justice, great coffee, and naps.
Greg Casey graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1971. He has practiced in the Spokane area for 54-plus years, practicing primarily personal injury and trial work. He has two sons who are also attorneys and has mentored two attorneys through the Rule 6 Law Clerk program.