- Washington Bar associations represent the needs of attorneys around the state. These associations give members the opportunity to advance their knowledge of law, meet with other attorneys that share their interests and volunteer their services to the community. In some cases, there are measures implemented to sanction attorneys who violate ethical practices.
- The Washington State Bar Association handles administrative matters for the Washington State Supreme Court. The association -- which has more than 33,800 member attorneys around the state -- handles issues such as licensing and discipline of attorneys.
Attorneys who want to practice law in Washington state must pass the state bar exam, unless they have practiced law in a state with a reciprocity agreement with Washington State. Once the bar exam has been passed, attorneys can become a member of the Washington State Bar Association and receive their license to practice in the state.
The Washington State Bar Association disciplines attorneys when they have broken the state's rules of conduct for attorneys. The association's Office of Disciplinary Counsel researches ethics complaints against attorneys, holds hearings about these offenses and takes disciplinary action against attorneys when necessary. - The GLBT Bar Association of Washington represents the interests of legal professionals across the state who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered. The association works to provide a supportive environment for these attorneys, educate them on the issues that affect their community, and promote the advancement of GLBT legal professionals in Washington.
The GLBT Bar Association of Washington organizes several member events including mentoring programs where attorneys, law students and law professors can network with each other and share ideas; classes that teach attorneys how to thrive in their practices; and annual banquets that include speeches from leaders in the legal industry. - Northwest Indian Bar Association, or NIBA, is made up of Native American attorneys, paralegals and judges who work in Washington, Alaska, Oregon and British Columbia. The association works to promote Native American legal professionals and provide positive role models for the community, educate members on the issues that affect their community and promotes pro-bono work for those in Indian reservations who need legal assistance.
- The Latina/o Bar Association of Washington represents the needs of attorneys, judges and paralegals of Latin descent. Members of the association benefit from membership events including an annual banquet and a membership meeting where issues important to the association are discussed. In addition, the The Latina/o Bar Association of Washington has a scholarship fund for Hispanics who wish to pursue careers in law.