OLYMPIA, Wash. – Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) has touted the removal of a 4-year degree requirement for his legal professional staff, but his office can’t say whether it actually employs anyone without a bachelor’s degree.
Ferguson’s campaign for Washington governor showcased the removal of the college degree requirement for legal professional staff in an April 25 social media post.
“I removed this requirement for my legal professional staff as Attorney General, and will do the same as Governor to expand opportunities for Washingtonians and make sure we attract the best talent possible,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson continued to highlight the change in policy throughout late April as part of his campaign’s economic growth plan, which says that he will remove the 4-year degree requirement for most state jobs if he is elected governor.
A public records request submitted to the Attorney General shows that his office is unaware whether anyone without a 4-year degree is currently employed there.
“We do not keep records by degrees held and therefore do not have a record with the number of legal professional staff who do not have 4 year degrees,” a representative from the AG’s office said.
The AG’s office went on to say that while it does not know whether anyone without a 4-year degree has gained employment since the rules were changed, applicants can show that they have relevant experience as a substitute for formal education.
“All Assistant Attorneys General currently working for the AGO are required to have Juris Doctorate degrees…Other legal professional staff currently working for the AGO may or may not have 4 year degrees,” the representative said.
While Ferguson plans on removing the 4-year degree stipulation for most state jobs, it isn’t clear whether his office removing it has actually led to a person without a college degree gaining employment.
