July 2003
FYI: For Your Information
Congratulations to New WSBA President-Elect Ronald R. Ward
At its June 6 board meeting, the WSBA Board of Governors elected Seattle attorney Ron Ward president-elect, to serve as the WSBA's 114th president in 2004. Ron will take office as president-elect at the close of the September 2003 annual business meeting, when President Dick Manning passes the gavel to Dave Savage. More information.
Robert Welden Appointed Chair of ABA Standing Committee
ABA President-elect Dennis Archer has appointed WSBA General Counsel Bob Welden chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection for 2003-2004. Bob, who is staff liaison for the WSBA Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, was appointed to a one-year term commencing at the adjournment of the 2003 ABA annual meeting in August.
More information.
Seventh-West District Runoff-Election Results
Dick Manning, Ron Ward, and Jan Michels certified the 7th-West runoff election results as follows:
(2,387 eligible voters, 580 votes cast—return rate of 24.3 percent)
Ellen Conedera Dial—276 votes (47.6 percent)
Mark A. Johnson—304 votes (52.4 percent)
Mark Johnson is certified the governor-elect in the 7th-West District.
Call for Nominations for 8th-District Governor
The election of Ron Ward creates an opening for the governor representing the 8th District. The newly elected governor's term of service will be two years, beginning in September 2003 and ending in September 2005. The WSBA bylaws specify that the Board of Governors fills the vacancy, and the Board of Governors is now calling for nominations. Active 8th-District members who are interested in serving on the Board of Governors are invited to send a letter of interest and resume to Executive Director Jan Michels, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; or e-mail oed@wsba.org. Nominations close July 18, 2003. Interviews and the election will occur at the July 25 Board of Governors meeting in Bellingham.
WYLD Seeks Award Nominations
The WYLD is accepting nominations for the Thomas Neville Pro Bono Award, the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award, and the Professionalism Award. All three awards recognize lawyers who epitomize the best in the legal profession. Nominations are also being accepted for Outstanding YLD Affiliate or Organization for recognition of public-service and/or member-service programs. Letters of nomination should include the nominator's complete contact information, as well as a copy of the nominee's résumé or list of accomplishments. Nominations must be received by July 31, 2003, and should be sent to Lisa Harper, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; or lisak@wsba.org. More information.
WSBA Announces 2003 Annual Awards Recipients
The Board of Governors is pleased to announce recipients of this year's WSBA awards:
Award of Merit: David Burman, Nicholas Gellert, and Katie O'Sullivan of Perkins Coie, and Maureen Hart of the Attorney General's Office
Professionalism Award: The Honorable Harry J. McCarthy
Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Public Service: Rochelle Kleinberg-Goffe
Outstanding Judge Award: The Honorable Stephen J. Dwyer
The Pro Bono Award was presented to the Spokane County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program and the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Program June 7 at the ATJ Conference.
The Board of Governors renamed the Affirmative Action Award the Excellence in Diversity Award, and the Elected Official in the Legislative Branch Award simply the Elected Official Award.
Annual Awards Dinner and Business Meeting
The Annual Awards Dinner and Business Meeting will be held Thursday, September 11, at Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. (no-host bar), and the dinner/program begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost for the dinner is $60 per person. All members of the legal community are invited. The registration form can be found on p. 41.
50-Year Member Tribute Luncheon
This year, the WSBA will be honoring its 50-year members at a separate event, on Thursday, September 25, in the Fifth Avenue Room of the Westin Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Registration and reception begin at 11:00 a.m. (no-host bar), and the luncheon and program begin at noon. Cost for the luncheon is $45 per person. All members of the legal community are invited to attend. The registration form can be found on p. 56.
Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings
July 25-26—Bellingham
September 11-12—Seattle
With the exception of a one-hour executive session the morning of the first day, Board of Governors meetings are open, and all WSBA members are welcome to attend. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. Please contact Donna Sato at 206-727-8244 or donnas@wsba.org. The complete Board of Governors meeting schedule is available on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/info/bog/schedule.htm.
Tacoma-Pierce County Judges and Court Commissioners Honored
On May 29, 2003, in a ceremony at the Pierce County Courthouse, members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association presented Creed of Professionalism plaques to judges and commissioners of the Pierce County Superior Court, Pierce County District Court, Tacoma Municipal Court, and municipal courts within Pierce County.
The Creed of Professionalism was developed by the Professionalism Committee and adopted by the WSBA Board of Governors at its July 2001 meeting. Many county bar associations have organized ceremonies where plaques have been presented to judges.
See more photos.
Professional Development Committee (PDC) Recommendations
After a year of strenuous work by the PDC Committee, Chair Jeff Tolman presented seven recommended actions to the Board of Governors. Five recommended actions were adopted. The WSBA will (1) work to strengthen mentoring programs; (2) implement skills-based testing; (3) review the Rule 9 Legal Intern Program; (4) request that Washington law schools re-examine their curriculum based on the MacCrate lawyering skills and values (the MacCrate Report was issued in July 1992 by the ABA Task Force on Law Schools and the Profession); and (5) appoint a task force to develop recommendations relating to the adoption of pre-licensure practical experience. Other committee recommendations include letters from the chief justice and WSBA president to incoming law students, modifications to the "Law School" pamphlet on the WSBA website, and a proposed court rule giving attorneys CLE credits for judging mock-trial competitions. The WYLD asked for an extended comment period on the other two recommended actions: four hours of pre-admission training and 15 MCLE credits in the first full year after admission.
CLE Publications Group Says "Thank You" to WSBA Members
This is the sale on CLE publications you've been waiting for—the Member Appreciation Summer CLE Sale, July 14 through July 25 at the WSBA-CLE online store. Stock up on CLE credits and shore up your practice library. A full range of valuable deskbooks and handy taped seminars with coursebooks (good for MCLE AV credits)—over 50 titles in all—are priced at 50 to 70 percent off, while supplies last. Visit store.yahoo.com/wsbastore beginning July 14.
Law Week Thank You
The Washington State Bar Association thanks the lawyers and judges who participated in Law Week 2003 (April 28-May 2).
Ethics 2003 Committee Meetings
The WSBA Committee for the Evaluation of the Rules of Professional Conduct (Ethics 2003 Committee) was convened to review the revised ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct; undertake a comprehensive study and evaluation of the ABA "Ethics 2000" revisions; consider the suitability of adopting the ABA revisions and commentary in Washington; and consider other appropriate changes to Washington's Rules of Professional Conduct. Ethics 2003 Committee meetings are open to the public, and interested WSBA members are encouraged to attend and/or provide input about the committee's work. Information about the Ethics 2003 Committee is on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/ethics2003. Please direct questions or comments to Committee Reporter Douglas Ende at 206-733-5917 or Ethics2003Committee@wsba.org. Meetings are generally held the second Wednesday of the month.
Upcoming meetings:
July 9—WSBA office
August 13—WSBA office
September 3—WSBA office
Filing-Fee Notice for CLE Sponsors
Effective July 1, 2003, all CLE sponsors will be required to pay a $50 filing fee. At the November 22, 2002, Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Board meeting, a motion was passed to increase a sponsor's filing fee for a Form 1 application for approval of MCLE credit to $50. In addition, a motion was passed to increase the fee for the WSBA's processing of manually submitted CLE attendance to $3 per name, with advance notice to providers that fees will be raised effective July 1, 2003. The fee for electronically submitted attendance will remain at $1 per name. This increase in fees will be subject to review, to ensure that the generated income is sufficient to cover costs.
Fulbright Scholar Grants Available for 2004-2005
The Fulbright Scholar Program is offering a number of lecturing, research, and lecturing/research awards in law for the 2004-2005 academic year. Awards range from two months to an academic year. While many awards specify project and host institution, there are 153 open All Disciplines awards that allow candidates to propose their own project and determine their host-institution affiliation. Foreign-language skills are needed in some countries, but most lecturing assignments are in English. The application deadline is August 1. For information, see www.cies.org or contact the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, 3007 Tilden St. NW, Ste. 5L, Washington, DC 20008; 202-686-7877; e-mail apprequest@cies.iie.org.
Usury Rate
The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in June 2003 is 1.12 percent. The maximum allowable interest rate for July is therefore 12 percent. Compilations of the average coupon equivalent yields from past auctions of 26-week treasury bills and past maximum interest rates for June 1988-June 1999 appear on page 53 of the June 1999 Bar News. Information from January 1987 to date is on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/usury.htm.
Online MCLE Credit-Tracking System
Using the online MCLE Credit-Tracking System, you can do the following:
• View your CLE courses and credits on your online attendance roster.
• Make changes to your online attendance roster.
• Search for approved courses.
• Apply for course approval.
To enter the MCLE Credit-Tracking System, go to the WSBA website at www.wsba.org and click "MCLE" in the left navigation bar, or go to http://pro.wsba.org and click on the Member tab. Select "Member Login" and follow the onscreen instructions. If you have questions, please contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA.
Website Links from Lawyer Directory
A link to your website can be added to your directory listing, so that current and potential clients can find out more about you and your practice at the click of a button.
The fee is $75 annually ($50 if you sign up July 1 or later). If your firm has seven or more lawyers, you'll save through our special pricing structure. Special pricing is also available for those who work for nonprofit or government agencies. For more information and sign-up instructions, see www.wsba.org/lawyers/addlink.htm.
Keep in Touch
The WSBA uses e-mail to communicate with members quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively, and increasingly it is becoming the preferred method of communication among committees and sections. If you haven't already, please consider providing us your e-mail address. Contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA, 206-443-WSBA, or questions@wsba.org. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lawyer-to-Lawyer-Program Roundtable
For program participants awaiting their one-on-one matches, we offer a roundtable discussion on Monday, July 14, 2003, from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at the WSBA office. The discussion offers an informal question-and-answer session, and provides opportunity to network with senior members and peers. For more information, contact Allison Durazzi at allisond@wsba.org or 206-733-5914.
The WSBA Store Is Open
The WSBA online store is open at www.wsba.org (click "WSBA Store" in the left navigation bar). Purchase Cutter & Buck polo shirts, twill baseball caps, ball-point pens, and brass luggage tags emblazoned with the WSBA logo. The store features secure online credit-card ordering. You may also purchase logo merchandise by calling the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA.
• Polo shirt (pewter or white, size L or XL)—$56
• Baseball cap (stone)—$24
• Ballpoint pen—$12
• Luggage tag—$7
Prices include shipping and handling. Sales tax (8.8 percent) will be added to orders shipped within Washington.
Learn More about Case-Management Software
The WSBA Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP) office maintains a computer for members to review software tools designed to maximize office efficiency. LOMAP staff are available to provide materials, answer questions, and recommend options. To make an appointment, contact Pete Roberts at 206-727-8237 or peter@wsba.org.
Consumer-Information Pamphlets Available
Provide a valuable service to your clients by offering them consumer-information pamphlets! Published by the WSBA as a public service, these pamphlets educate consumers about their legal rights and responsibilities, answer frequently asked questions, and explain basic aspects of Washington law. The information, of course, is general, and not intended as legal advice or as a substitute for a lawyer's services.
For a complete listing of pamphlets and pricing information, contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or see the WSBA website at
www.wsba.org/consumer-information.
Note: A special discounted rate is available for qualified nonprofit organizations—contact the WSBA Service Center for details.
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