October 2003
FYI: For Your Information
Paula Littlewood Joins the WSBA as Deputy Director
Paula Littlewood joined the WSBA September 2 as deputy director. A Pullman native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and history in 1988 from Claremont McKenna College, and her J.D. and Masters in International Studies in 1997 from the University of Washington. Between degrees, she traveled and worked in Asia for three years, then returned to the Northwest to fundraise for local and statewide political campaigns and initiatives. Following law school, she became an assistant dean at the University of Washington Law School under Dean Hjorth, where she managed various departments, including development and public relations, budget/administration, computing services, and CLE. Since 1998 she has been an active member of the WSBA, where she sat on many committees, including chairing the Editorial Advisory Board and serving on the Legislative Committee.
Nominations Sought for Public Legal Education Award
The Council on Public Legal Education is accepting nominations for the 2003 Flame of Democracy Award, given annually to an individual, organization, or program in Washington state that has made a significant contribution to increasing the public’s understanding of law, the justice system, or government.
First presented in 2002 to the late journalist Richard Larsen, the award was established to highlight the important educational work being done by teachers, lawyers, the media, and a variety of advocacy and community organizations. Notable efforts range from school-based programs for youth, to cable-television shows for seniors, to workshops for the general public.
Nominations, which are due by November 1, 2003, should be made in the form of a letter describing the nominee’s contribution to public legal education in Washington. Self-nominations are encouraged. Letters should be addressed to Pam Inglesby, PLE Award Nominations Committee, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330. E-mail submissions are acceptable, and may be sent to pami@wsba.org. Further information about the council may be found at www.plecouncil.org.
2003 WYLD Awards Announced
The Washington Young Lawyers Division takes great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the 2003 WYLD awards, which will be presented at various legal community events that are yet to be determined:
• The WYLD Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award will be presented to Anthony Miles of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP for his exceptional contributions to community and professional organizations. The nominating materials state, “The quality of his work product shines brightly as an example of what can take place when intelligence, passion, and perseverance merge in a young lawyer.”
• The WYLD Outstanding Affiliate Organization Award will be presented to the King County Housing Justice Project because it “facilitates the provision of critical legal services to low-income clients in our community,” their marketing materials state, “and makes significant contributions to our professional community by training and developing young lawyers.”
• The WYLD Thomas Neville Pro Bono Award will be presented to Jennie Laird of Columbia Legal Services. The nominating materials state that Ms. Laird has “dedicated her career to the provision of legal services to low-income people, particularly domestic victims. In addition to her paid legal positions, she consistently volunteers with legal and community organizations and shares her knowledge and expertise generously with colleagues, clients, and allies in the civil legal services and social-services communities.”
• The WYLD Professionalism Award will be presented to Mari Horita of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP for her “passion and commitment to community service,” her strong support of the arts, and her active advocacy in the Asian-American community. The WYLD Board of Trustees agrees with her nominator, Thomas Eli Backer, when he states that the depth of her accomplishments is remarkable.
Welcome to the WYLD’s Newest Officers
The new Washington Young Lawyers Division (WYLD) officers will officially take their seats at the WYLD Board of Trustees meeting in Seattle on October 4, 2003.
• J.D. Smith, of the Seattle office of Gordon Thomas Honeywell, was unanimously voted by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 2003-2004 WYLD president.
• Steven W. Marsalis, of the Spokane County Public Defenders Office, was unanimously voted by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 2003-2004 WYLD President-elect.
• Julia Bahner, of the Seattle office of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, was elected to represent the King County District.
• Jennifer Brugger, of the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office, was elected to represent the Peninsula District.
• Mark O’Halloran, of Bishop Law Offices in Burien, was elected to represent the King County District.
• Heather M. Young, of Davies Pearson in Tacoma, was unanimously appointed to represent the Pierce County District.
The WYLD thanks Immediate-Past WYLD President Lance Hester for his dedicated service to the young lawyers and the legal community of Washington.
For a full WYLD Board of Trustees roster and more information about the WYLD, please visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/wyld.
Now Available: 2004 Annual Publications Catalog
The 2004 edition of the publications catalog from WSBA-CLE Publications will soon be mailed to WSBA members. Look for your convenient guide to WSBA-CLE’s outstanding products and services in your mailbox this month. Save your catalog for the coming year, to order our premier deskbooks, audiotapes, coursebooks, and more—whether online, or by phone, fax, or mail.
CLE Calendar through December 2003 Now Online
To help you plan your schedule, WSBA-CLE is now listing upcoming seminars through the end of the year at www.wsba.org/cle/seminars/seminarcalendar.htm. If the seminar is open for registration, you can register online. For later seminars, you can ask to be notified when registration opens.
Address Update Reminder
Now is the ideal time to check that the WSBA has your correct contact information in its database for the 2004 license-fee renewal packets scheduled to be mailed in early December. Please update your address no later than November 1 to ensure your licensing packet will be mailed to the correct address. You can check your listing by going to the online lawyer directory at http://pro.wsba.org. If any of your contact information (name, address, phone number, fax number, or e-mail address) has changed, please update the information by e-mailing questions@wsba.org, faxing the change to 206-727-8319, or calling the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA.
Washington Attorneys Attend Installation of Dennis Archer ABA President
Washington attorneys attending the installation of Dennis Archer as president of the American Bar Association in August were (left to right) Lembhard Howell, founder of the Loren Miller Bar Association and the first African-American to serve on the WSBA Board of Governors; Ronald Ward, WSBA president-elect; Dennis Archer, ABA President; J.D. Smith, president of the WSBA Young Lawyers Division and delegate to the ABA House of Delegates; and Eric Jones, Loren Miller Bar Association president-elect.
WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee to Review Rules
When it reconvenes in fall 2003, the WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee is scheduled to review the Civil Rules for Superior Court (CR) and for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CRLJ), as well as the Mandatory Arbitration Rules (MAR) and the Special Proceedings Rules (SPR). Please send any suggested rule changes to the Supreme Court of Washington, Temple of Justice, PO Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504-0929; or e-mail Lisa Bausch at Lisa.Bausch@courts.wa.gov.
MCLE Credits for Group 3 Due at Year End
Active WSBA members in MCLE Reporting Group 3 will be required to report compliance with MCLE credit requirements for 2001-2003 at the end of this year. Members in Group 3 include those who were admitted to the WSBA in 1984 through 1990, or in 1993, 1996, or 1999. Members admitted in 2002 are also in Group 3 but will not be due to report until 2006.
Group 3 members will need to complete the following by December 31, 2003, to meet the MCLE credit requirements for 2001-2003:
• At least 30 live credits
• At least six ethics credits
• At least 45 credits total
If Group 3 members do not meet the credit requirements by December 31, 2003, an automatic extension is granted until May 1, 2004; however, a late fee will be imposed. If this is the first period in which a member is late, the late fee is $150. The late fee increases by $300 for each consecutive reporting period that the member is late in meeting MCLE requirements.
Members may use the online MCLE system at http://pro.wsba.org to:
• Review courses taken and credits earned.
• Apply for course approval.
• Apply for writing credit or prep-time credit.
• Search for approved courses being presented in the future.
To use the MCLE system, go to http://pro.wsba.org, click the “Member” tab, then select “Member Login.” The online instructions lead you through setting up a confidential password and beginning to use the system. If you have questions, contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or questions@wsba.org.
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 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.
Upcoming Ethics 2003 Committee meetings:
October 8—WSBA office
November 12—WSBA office
December 10—WSBA office
Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings
October 17-18—Portland
December 5-6—Leavenworth
January 16-17, Olympia
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.
David Burman to Receive Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award
The Legal Foundation of Washington will present the 2004 Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award to David J. Burman at the 18th Annual Goldmark Award Luncheon, to be held Friday, February 20, 2004, at the Red Lion Hotel in Seattle from noon to 1:30 p.m. The luncheon is open to the public.
Mr. Burman, a partner with Perkins Coie, will receive the award in recognition of his pro bono representation before the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Legal Foundation of Washington. The Court upheld the constitutionality of Washington’s IOLTA program. Nationally, IOLTA programs provide over one-third of civil legal-aid funding to the poor.
The Goldmark Award honors the memory of Charles A. Goldmark, Seattle attorney, community leader, and ardent supporter of access to justice, who was serving as the Legal Foundation’s president at the time of his death in 1986. For more information about the Legal Foundation of Washington, the Goldmark Award, or the IOLTA program, visit www.legalfoundation.org.
Usury Rate
The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in September 2003 was 1.063 percent. The maximum allowable interest rate for October 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.
Mentors Needed for Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program
The WSBA Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program needs experienced attorneys to serve as informal mentors, especially in King County. Interested members may contact Pete Roberts or Allison Durazzi in the Law Office Management Assistance Program. Pete Roberts can be reached at 206-727-8237 or peter@wsba.org; Allison Durazzi can be reached at 206-733-5914 or allisond@wsba.org. Program guidelines and sign-up forms are online at www.wsba.org/lawyers/services/lawyertolawyer.htm.
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 for the first year 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 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The WSBA Store Is Open
The WSBA online store is open. Go to www.wsba.org and click “WSBA Store” in the left navigation bar. Purchase Cutter & Buck polo shirts, twill baseball caps, ballpoint 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 list of pamphlets and pricing information, contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or go to www.wsba.org/consumer-information.
Note: A special discounted rate is available for qualified nonprofit organizations—contact the WSBA Service Center for details.
