Washington, DC Will Allow Limited Diploma Privilege to 2019 and 2020 Graduates Amid Pandemic
September 25, 2020
Washington, D.C.'s highest court ruled Thursday it will allow certain recent law school graduates to obtain a D.C. bar license and begin practicing law without taking or passing an exam due to widespread disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The D.C. Court of Appeals' 4-3 order makes the district the fifth jurisdiction — behind Utah, Washington, Oregon and Louisiana — to grant diploma privilege. The online-only bar exam in D.C. is still set for Oct. 5-6.
"The court therefore has determined, on a one-time basis, to permit certain recent law school graduates to be admitted to the D.C. Bar without taking or passing a bar examination, under a number of conditions intended to safeguard the public's interest in the competence and good character of those who are permitted to practice law in the District of Columbia," the order said.
The waiver program applies to 2019 and 2020 graduates from American Bar Association-accredited law schools who already signed up to take the D.C. exam next month or next year, the order said.
Some of the conditions laid out in the order include that applicants can't already be admitted to a bar in a different jurisdiction or have failed a bar exam. Applicants must also be certified by the dean of the law school they graduated from as being of good character and competent legal ability, and they have to practice in the district for three years after admission under the direct supervision of an enrolled, active member of the D.C. Bar.
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