In 1999, Washington joined a small but growing number of jurisdictions in adopting a broad reciprocal admission rule in the form of former Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 18. In 2006, Washington followed with a multijurisdictional practice (MJP) rule, RPC 5.5, patterned on ABA Model Rules of Prof'l Conduct r. 5.5. Developments in both areas have continued. In 2014, the Washington Supreme Court substantially revised the APR following the recommendations of a WSBA task force appointed by the Board of Governors. APR 18 was deleted at that time and was replaced with "admission by motion" under APR 3(c). RPC 5.5, in turn, was amended in 2014 and 2016 in important, but less sweeping, ways. A choice-of-law provision was also added as RPC 8.5(b) in 2006 and was again patterned on its ABA Model Rule counterpart, ABA Model Rules of Prof'l Conduct r. 8.5(b). RPC 8.5(b) was then amended in 2016.
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These developments collectively represent a sea change in the ability of lawyers to practice in Washington. Similar changes both regionally and nationally have also significantly enhanced the ability of Washington lawyers to practice in many other states with comparative ease. This chapter examines four major facets of these trends. First, Washington's reciprocal admission rule is surveyed. Second, Washington's separate in-house counsel admission rule is outlined....
