Washington State Bar Association: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about WSBA

WSBA requirements in detail

Two ways in for foreign-educated lawyers

WSBA lets you sit the bar exam with a law degree from outside the US that qualifies you to practice law there, plus an LL.M. that meets Washington Supreme Court APR 3 from an ABA-approved school; or if you are admitted in a jurisdiction whose law is based on English common law and have practiced in at least three of the last five years (Qualifications to take the bar exam).

A foreign degree that does not qualify you to practice abroad is not enough, even with a US LL.M. (Admissions FAQ).

The exam is the NextGen UBE, given in February and July (Lawyers: join the legal profession in Washington). Applicants who qualify for admission by motion or UBE score transfer cannot take it instead.

Plan around the investigation

Foreign lawyers' applications are sent to NCBE for investigation, which typically takes four to six months for US lawyers and up to nine months for foreign lawyer applicants (Admissions FAQ).

Good standing certificates must be dated within six months of the application, as must the two certificates of good moral character and the notarized authorization and release (WSBA Admissions Policies, revised September 24, 2026), so request them close to filing and order translations as soon as they arrive.

WSBA's old page for international applicants now redirects to the general lawyers page, and the portal publishes no separate checklist for the foreign transcript or diploma (Qualifications to take the bar exam). The certified translation rule applies to whatever the portal asks you to upload.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Certificates of good standing or status letters from foreign bars
• Law degree certificates and diplomas
• Law school transcripts
• Certificates of good moral character written in another language

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to WSBA

• Upload each document with its certified English translation in the WSBA admissions portal, within the filing deadlines (WSBA Admissions Policies, revised September 24, 2026).

• Our translation is delivered as a PDF with a signed certificate of translation accuracy, ready to upload.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions