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August 2004FYI: For Your InformationFamily Law CASA of King County Call for Training-class Volunteers The Family Law CASA Program is recruiting volunteers from the minority community for its next free four-day training class, which will be held September 23, 24, and 30, and October 1. CASA volunteers represent the best interests of children involved in contested family-law cases in King County Superior Court. These cases typically involve allegations of substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, and physical or sexual abuse. Volunteers do not have to be attorneys, but need to have a strong interest in doing investigations, home visits, writing reports, and testifying in court. The program provides ongoing supervision and support following the initial training period. For more information or to request an application, call 206-748-9700 or visit www.familylawcasa.com. MCLE Certification for Active Members General Information Due Date for MCLE Reporting. All WSBA members are divided into three MCLE reporting groups based upon year of admission: Group 1: Admitted through 1975, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, or 2003* Credit Requirement. The following credit requirements must be met by December 31 of the last year of an active member's reporting period: Earn at least 45 total credits of WSBA-approved CLE activities, which must include a minimum of 30 live credits and a minimum of six ethics credits. A/V courses can be no more than five years old, except skills courses. No more than four pro bono credits can be earned per year. Carryover CLE Credits. Carryover credits from the previous reporting period must be used to meet the requirements of the current reporting period. If your current reporting period total credits exceed 45, you may carry over a maximum combined total of 15 general and ethics credits. Only two ethics credits and 5 A/V credits may be carried over. MCLE Late Fees. All active members who have not completed their credits by December 31 of the last year of their reporting period, or who submit their C2 reporting forms after March 1 of the following year, must pay a late fee of $150. The late fee increases by $300 for each consecutive three-year reporting period of noncompliance. Newly Admitted Members. If you are a newly admitted member, you are exempt from reporting CLE credits for the year of your admission and the following calendar year. If you were admitted in 2003, you will not report this reporting period (2002-2004) even though you are in Group 1. You will first report at the end of 2007 for the 2005-2007 reporting period. When you report at the end of your first reporting period, you may claim all CLE credits earned on or after your date of admission to the WSBA. MCLE Comity. If you are an active member of the WSBA and your primary practice is in Oregon, Idaho, or Utah, you may meet your mandatory CLE requirements by providing proof of current compliance. Only a Certificate of Compliance from your state bar will satisfy your MCLE requirements in Washington. MCLE System Course Listing and Member Profiles. You can 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 for prep-time credit, and search for approved courses being presented in the future. To use the MCLE system, go to http://pro.wsba.org, click on the Member tab, then select Member Login. The online instructions will lead you through the process of creating a confidential password and beginning to use the system. Online help files are available. If you have any questions about using the MCLE system or about the MCLE compliance requirements, please contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or questions@wsba.org. MCLE Certification for Group 1 (2002-2004) Complete Credits by December 31, 2004 MCLE Reporting Group 1 members should be planning to complete all the credits for the 2002-2004 reporting period by December 31, 2004. A Continuing Legal Education Certification (C2) form, an affidavit that lists all the WSBA-approved courses that you took for compliance, will need to be filed. This form will be in the license packet that will be mailed to you at the beginning of December. The C2 form, not your online profile, is the official record of MCLE compliance. The C2 forms must be postmarked or delivered to the WSBA no later than March 1, 2005. Members in Group 1 include active members who were admitted to the WSBA in all years through 1975 or in 1991, 1994, 1997, or 2000. Members admitted in 2003 are also in Group 1 but are not due to report until the end of 2007. Their first reporting period will be 2005-2007, but any credits earned on or after the day of admittance to the WSBA may be counted for compliance. See "MCLE Certification for Active Members General Information" above for further information about the MCLE report. Access to Justice Board Awards Presented June 12 At the annual Access to Justice (ATJ) Conference held in Yakima in June, the ATJ Board presented the Washington State Supreme Court with its 2004 Judicial Leadership Award. The Court was recognized for establishing the Task Force on Civil Equal Justice Funding, providing funding for the Task Force's Civil Legal Needs Study, and championing the need to address the report's significant implications for the justice system. Chief Justice Gerry Alexander accepted the award on behalf of the Court. The 2004 Access to Justice Leadership Award was given to Columbia Legal Services, in appreciation of the program's demonstrated history of "walking its talk" in service of the vision of equal justice for all. Pictured are Ada Shen-Jaffe and Jim Bamberger with Columbia Legal Services staff and board members. Ada and Jim, who will be leaving Columbia Legal Services this December, were honored with a special video presentation featuring, among others, Governor Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire. The Access to Justice (ATJ) Board recognized the North Central Washington Equal Justice Advisory Committee for its extraordinary ability to bring diverse interests business, agricultural industry, legal, and social and human services together to form a strong, sustaining, nonpartisan, and inclusive community-based commitment to justice and fairness for low-income residents. Ty Duhamel, staff attorney at Columbia Legal Services, accepted the 2004 Civil Equal Justice Community Partnership Award from Colleen Kinerk, chair of the ATJ Conference Planning Committee. Second Annual UW Law School Alumni Association Golf Tournament The Second Annual Law School Alumni Association Golf Tournament will be held Friday, August 27, 2004, at the Washington National Golf Club, 14330 SE Husky Way, Auburn. Tee time is 1 p.m. The tournament is open to the public. The format is an 18-hole, four-person scramble, and all players tee off and the team plays the best ball on every shot. Proceeds benefit student scholarships. For more information, please contact Beverly Sanders at bsan@u.washington.edu or 206-543-8707. WYLD Young Lawyer Express: CLE by the Sea Weekend Don't miss this opportunity to earn free CLE credits! Join your colleagues for estate planning and probate, criminal law evidentiary and civil procedures practice tips, and more at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island September 24-26, 2004; 2.75 general CLE credits pending. Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to network with other young lawyers. Group activities include kayaking, bowling, and an island scavenger hunt. For registration and detailed event information, please visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/wyld. Mark Your Calendar: 2004 WSBA Annual Awards Dinner and Business Meeting The WSBA Annual Awards Dinner and Business Meeting will be held Thursday, September 16, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle. All members of the legal community are invited to attend. To make your reservation, please download the form at www.wsba.org/aaregform.pdf. The 50-Year Member Tribute Luncheon will be held Wednesday, September 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, 1400 Sixth Avenue, Seattle. All members of the legal community are invited to attend. To make your reservation, please visit www.wsba.org/50yrregform04.pdf. At their June 11, 2004 meeting in Yakima, and in accordance with the WYLD Bylaws, the WYLD Board of Trustees unanimously appointed two new trustees. Chris Bell of Bell & Ingram PS in Everett was named the new Snohomish District trustee. Rachelle Anderson of Spokane was appointed to her second term as Greater Spokane District trustee. Both trustees will serve on the board October 2004 through September 2007. For more information about the WYLD, please visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/wyld. 2004 WSBA Annual Award Recipients The WSBA Board of Governors is pleased to announce the recipients of this year's awards. The following awards will be presented at the WSBA Annual Awards Dinner in Seattle on September 16, 2004, with the following exceptions: The Pro Bono Award was presented at the Access to Justice Conference in Wenatchee on June 12, and the Outstanding Judge Award will be presented at the Washington Judicial Conference in Spokane in September. Award of Merit. First given in 1957, this is the WSBA's highest honor. The Award of Merit is most often given for long-term service to the Bar and/or the public, although it has also been presented in recognition of a single, extraordinary contribution or project. It is awarded to individuals only both lawyers and nonlawyers. The 2004 recipients are David Boerner and Ellen Dial. Professionalism Award. This honor is awarded to a member of the WSBA who exemplifies the spirit of professionalism in the practice of law. "Professionalism" is defined as the pursuit of a learned profession in the spirit of service to the public and in the sharing of values with other members of the profession. The 2004 recipients are Robert Boruchowitz and Jeffrey Jahns. Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Public Service. Named in honor of the late Angelo R. Petruss, a senior assistant attorney general who passed away during his term of service on the WSBA Board of Governors, this award is given to a lawyer in government service who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession, the justice system, and the public. The 2004 recipients are Sally Bagshaw and Rhonda Brown. Outstanding Judge Award. This award is presented for outstanding service to the bench and for special contribution to the legal profession at any level of the court. The 2004 recipient is Hon. Richard A. Jones. Pro Bono Award. This award is presented to a lawyer, nonlawyer, law firm, or local bar association for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono services. This award is based on cumulative efforts, as opposed to a lawyer's or group's pro bono hours or financial contribution. The 2004 recipient is Matthew Kenney. Courageous Award. This award is presented to a lawyer who has displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity, thus bringing credit to the legal profession. The 2004 recipient is Ada Shen-Jaffe. Excellence in Diversity Award. This award is made to a lawyer, law firm, or law-related group that has made a significant contribution to diversity in the legal profession's employment of ethnic minorities, women, and disabled persons. The 2004 recipient is Sandra Madrid. Excellence in Legal Journalism Award. This award recognizes that describing the context, facts, and players involved in the legal system with fairness and sensitivity requires intelligence, knowledge, dedication, and skill. This award is given to the journalist and his/her organization that has set the standard for relevance, clarity, accuracy, and understanding in reporting. The 2004 recipients are Ken Armstrong, Florangela Davila, and Justin Mayo. Special Lifetime Service Award. This is a special award given for a lifetime of service to the WSBA and the public. It is given only when there is someone especially deserving of this recognition. The 2004 recipient is M. Wayne Blair. July's Wenatchee Peer Counselor Training: "L.A.P. on the Map" Was a Success The two-hour training, "Secondary Traumatic Stress: What You Don't Know Will Hurt You," by Barbara Harper, Lawyer Services Department director, and Jennifer L. Favell, Ph.D., was an opportunity for peer counselors on the east side of the mountains to meet these two WSBA staff members, earn two CLE credits, and enjoy reconnection. Look for information on future trainings. We hope to see you in Chelan for the statewide conference in April 2005. For more information, contact the Lawyers' Assistance Program at 206-727-8268. Senior Attorneys' Discussion Group We meet the third Thursday every month to talk about issues important to senior attorneys who continue to be involved, creative, healthy and active. On August 19, after time to check in with each other, we'll hear about members' travels. Join us at no cost, 4-5:30 p.m., WSBA fourth-floor conference room. Contact Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at 206-727-8267 for more information. The Lawyers' Assistance Program will offer a small, confidential therapy group for active members of the WSBA. We will meet Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. beginning July 21, with sessions ending October 6, 2004. Cost will be on a sliding-scale basis. If you have questions or would like further information, please call Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., 206-727-8267. The week of June 7, 2004, the Washington Pattern Forms Committee and the Administrative Office of the Courts published a new set of model Small Claims forms and updates to the Domestic Relations forms, the Domestic Violence forms, the Antiharassment forms, the Juvenile Court forms, the Misdemeanor Judgment and Sentencing forms, and the Felony Judgment and Sentence forms, including Certificate of Discharge forms. The forms became effective June 10, 2004. A list of the modified forms follows: Small Claims Forms: MISC 05.0100, Notice of Small Claim, MISC 05.0200, Certificate of Service, MISC 05.0300, Small Claims/Order of Dismissal/Continuance, MISC 05.0500, Small Claims Judgment. Domestic Relations Forms: Child Support forms: WSCSS-Summary Report; Forms for Use in All Family Law Cases: WPF DRPSCU 01.0050, WPF DRPSCU 01.0150, WPF DRPSCU 01.0250, WPF DRPSCU 01.0410, WPF DRPSCU 01.1550 (WPF DRPSCU 01.1550 is a Financial Declaration for use in all cases); Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (new forms): WPF DRPSCU 10.0100, Request for Support Order Registration Under UIFSA; WPF DRPSCU 10.0150, Cover Sheet for Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) Documents; Chapter 26.09: WPF DR 01.0500, WPF DR 03.0100, WPF DR 04.0150, WPF DR 04.0170, WPF DR 04.0250, WPF DR 04.0400, WPF DR 06.0100, WPF DR 06.0300, WPF DR 06.0400, WPF DR 06.0600, WPF DR 07.0300. Delete form WPF DR 01.0550; Chapter 26.10: WPF CU 01.0100, WPF CU 01.0250, WPF CU 01.0255, WPF CU 01.0500, WPF CU 02.0200, WPF CU 02.0400, WPF CU 03.0150, WPF CU 03.0170, WPF CU 03.0200, WPF CU 03.0520, WPF CU 03.0540, WPF CU 03.0550; Chapter 26.26: WPF PS 01.0150, WPF PS 01.0155, WPF PS 01.0500, WPF PS 03.0100, WPF PS 04.0150, WPF PS 04.0170, WPF PS 04.0200, WPF PS 04.0250, WPF PS 15.0150, WPF PS 15.0650, WPF PS 15.0700 (New form: WPF PS 15.0560, Residential Schedule). Delete form WPF PS 01.0550. Domestic Violence Forms: WPF DV-3.015. Antiharassment Forms: WPF UH-4.0500, WPF HU-5.0500. Juvenile Court Forms: WPF JU 02.0200, WPF JU 03.0400, WPF JU 03.0410, WPF JU 03.0500, WPF JU 03.0700, WPF JU 03.0730, WPF JU 04.0100, WPF JU 04.0110, WPF JU 05.0100, WPF JU 05.0250, WPF JU 05.0255, WPF JU 05.0300, WPF JU 05.0400, WPF JU 05.0500, WPF JU 05.0600, WPF JU 05.0700, WPF JU 05.0710, WPF JU 05.0800, WPF JU 06.0100, WPF JU 06.0150, WPF JU 07.0800, WPF JU 07.0820, WPF JU 07.1320, WPF JU 10.0300, WPF JU 12.0400, WPF JU 12.0500 (New forms: WPF JU 05.0250, Indian Child Welfare Act Notice 25 U.S.C. 1912(a), and WPF JU 05.0255, Proof of Mailing (ICWA Notice). Misdemeanor Judgment and Sentencing Forms: CrRLJ 03.0400, CrRLJ 03.0410, CrRLJ 07.0100, CrRLJ 07.0110, CrRLJ 07.0500. Delete form CrRLJ 07.0300. Felony Judgment and Sentence Form: WPF CR 84.0400. Certificate of Discharge Forms (new forms): CR 08.0600, Petition for Certificate and Order of Discharge CR 08.0650, Certificate and Order of Discharge CR 08.0670, Obtaining a Certificate of Discharge. The forms may be ordered by calling the AOC forms line, 360-705-5328, or by writing PO Box 41174, Olympia, WA 98504-1174. The forms are also available on the Internet at: www.courts.wa.gov/forms. Business Law Section Contributes $10,000 to WAACO The WSBA Business Law Section has contributed $10,000 to support the start-up of the Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations (WAACO), a new statewide organization that matches volunteer attorneys with charitable and community-based nonprofit organizations in need of business-related legal services. "Aside from providing much-needed seed funding for WAACO's formation and initiation of its operations," said WAACO Treasurer Pamela A. Grinter, "the Business Law Section's contribution has lent credibility to this new organization. The individuals behind WAACO wish to thank the section for its contribution." This contribution is the section's second $10,000 contribution to WAACO; the first was in fall 2003. Proposed Amendments to Regulation 110 of APR 11 Before the Supreme Court On March 8, 2004, proposed amendments to Regulation 110 of APR 11, approved by the MCLE Board and the WSBA Board of Governors, were sent to the Washington State Supreme Court for approval. The proposed amendments to this regulation clarify the basis for the granting of exemptions, waivers, or modifications of the CLE requirements by the MCLE Board. They also include a new section (f) to specifically address the application of the requirements to active members of the Bar who are on active military duty. Interest in Establishment of New State and Local Tax Section This notice is posted pursuant to the WSBA Bylaws, Article IX, Sections, regarding a six-month prior notification of intent to establish a new section. There is a current effort to form a State and Local Tax Section. For additional information, please contact John Piper at 206-224-8045. Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program: Mentors Needed for Newer Admittees The WSBA's Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program matches newer admittees with experienced lawyers. The program is not a structured mentoring program and does not supplant any similar programs of local or specialty bars. We connect lawyers with similar practices in the same geographic area for mutual information-sharing and goodwill. We need experienced attorneys to serve as informal mentors, especially in King County. Help new lawyers get a head start on learning those lawyering skills not found in any textbook. Interested members may contact Pete Roberts (206-727-8237; peter@wsba.org) in the Law Office Management Assistance Program. Program guidelines and sign-up forms are available at www.wsba.org/lawyers/services/lawyertolawyer.htm. Usury Rate The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in July 2004 was 1.666 percent. The maximum allowable interest rate for August 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 to 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. Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings September 16-17 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. |
