(1) No employment agency may bring or maintain a cause of action in any court of this state for compensation for, or seeking equitable relief in regard to, services rendered employers and applicants, unless such agency shall allege and prove that at the time of rendering the services in question, or making the contract therefor, it was registered with the department or the holder of a valid license issued under this chapter.

Washington Code 19.31.020

Employment directory: means any business operated by any person that provides in any form, including written or verbal, lists of employers, does not provide lists of specified positions of employment, that holds itself out to applicants as able to provide information on employment in specific industries or geographical areas, and that charges a fee to the applicant for its services. See Washington Code 19.31.020

Employment listing service: means any business operated by any person that provides in any form, including written or verbal, lists of specified positions of employment available with any employer other than itself or that holds itself out to applicants as able to provide information about specific positions of employment available with any employer other than itself, and that charges a fee to the applicant for its services and does not set up interviews or otherwise intercede between employer and applicant. See Washington Code 19.31.020

Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}

Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

Person: includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, company, society, manager, contractor, subcontractor, bureau, agency, service, office, or an agent or employee of any of the foregoing. See Washington Code 19.31.020

(2) Any person who shall give consideration of any kind to any employment agency for the performance of employment services in this state when said employment agency shall not be registered with the department or be the holder of a valid license issued under this chapter shall have a cause of action against the employment agency. Any court having jurisdiction may enter judgment therein for treble the amount of such consideration so paid, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

(3) A person performing the services of an employment agency, employment listing service, or employment directory without being registered with the department or holding a valid license shall cease operations or immediately apply for a valid license or register with the department. If the person continues to operate in violation of this chapter the director or the attorney general has a cause of action in any court having jurisdiction for the return of any consideration paid by any person to the agency. The court may enter judgment in the action for treble the amount of the consideration so paid, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.