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December 2004WSBA Leadership Institute: Growing Lawyer Leadership for the Futureby Ron Ward, WSBA President The WSBA Leadership Institute will be undertaking its maiden voyage during my 2004-2005 term as WSBA President. What Is the WSBA Leadership Institute? Many young lawyers, particularly those of color, women, and those from traditionally under-represented groups, have not been recruited for leadership positions or made aware of opportunities for skill development, professional growth, and leadership training that are available through the WSBA. In response, the WSBA Board of Governors decided last year to create a leadership development program for a select group of young lawyers, and the WSBA Leadership Institute was born. The mission of the new WSBA Leadership Institute is to recruit, train, and retain Washington attorneys who have been admitted to practice for 10 years or less for leadership positions in the legal community and in the WSBA. Program participants (“fellows”) will be selected with an emphasis on diversity (racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, disability, cultural, and geographic). An additional benefit of this program will be expansion of leadership potential for local, minority, and specialty bar associations. Although diversity is the emphasis, no one will be left out or excluded from consideration if they meet the selection criteria and submit an application. Why Would a Young Lawyer Want to Apply to the WSBA Leadership Institute? There are many benefits of participating in the Leadership Institute: • Training in the Law, the Courts, and the Bar — By the end of the program, fellows will be much more informed about the practice of law; the inner workings of the state and federal justice systems; and local, state, and national bar associations. Top bar and judicial leaders will serve as the program’s faculty. • One-on-One Interaction with Judges — Fellows will be provided with at least one training session involving judges from the federal, state, and tribal courts. This will allow for one-on-one interaction with the decisionmakers who manage and influence the justice system. • Exposure to Practice and Industry Leaders — Fellows will learn practice tips from the most experienced and celebrated lawyers in public and private practice, and from the major corporations located in Washington state. • Mentorship from Well-known Bar Leaders — Each fellow will be assigned to a senior WSBA mentor in the practice area that the fellow is currently inclined to pursue. • Transportation, Lodging, and Meals Provided — The program is a no-cost endeavor for fellows. To the extent there are travel, lodging, or meal requirements, their costs will be covered by the WSBA. How Can You Be Selected as a WSBA Leadership Institute Fellow? WSBA Leadership Institute fellows will be selected using the following criteria: • Between Three and 10 Years of Practice — It is important to give young lawyers sufficient time after law school to understand the organizations where they work, and the expectations of their superiors, and to develop the basic skills that will provide the foundation for a successful legal career before they are tapped for significant outside bar activities. Young lawyers must therefore have practiced for at least three years before they are eligible for the WSBA Leadership Institute. Because more time is necessary to identify “late bloomers” who have leadership potential that may emerge more slowly, applicants who have been practicing for up to 10 years will be considered. • Letter of Approval/Recommendation and Nomination Form from Organizational Representative — Given the time commitment required of a fellow, there needs to be “buy-in” to the WSBA Leadership Institute concept at the highest levels of the applicant’s organization. Therefore, unless the applicant is a solo practitioner, each applicant must be nominated by a person within his or her organization’s senior management. This ensures that a serious commitment is made to the program by the individual and his or her employer. • Evidence of Preexisting Community and/or Bar Interest — We seek to develop leaders who are already starting to show a track record or at least some serious interest in community and/or bar activities. The “evidence” of this can be in the form of a statement by the applicant; letters from community leaders and/or local, minority, or specialty bar association presidents; or any other source that will illustrate the applicant’s inclination to participate in community or bar activities. For further information about the application process, see the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/lawyers/leadership_institute.htm. How Does the WSBA Leadership Institute Function? The WSBA Leadership Institute’s mission is being executed by an advisory board composed of outstanding individuals whom I have appointed from the ranks of Washington lawyers, state and federal judges, and legal academia, under the chairmanship of Seattle lawyer James F. Williams of the Perkins Coie law firm. Those members include: • Honorable Ricardo S. Martinez, U.S. District Court We think this program is a golden opportunity for any young lawyer to develop leadership skills that enhance local, minority, and specialty bar associations; the future leadership potential of the WSBA; and — last but not least — the young lawyer’s own marketability. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to grow leadership in the ranks of our profession in Washington state. |
