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October 2004FYI: For Your InformationWYLD Has Successful Year • Enhancing the use of De Novo The Washington Young Lawyers Division (WYLD) Announces the Recipients of the 2004 WYLD Awards The WYLD Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award was presented to Gabriel S. Galanda of Williams Kastner & Gibbs PLLC, for his exceptional leadership and contributions to the profession and his community. The nominating materials state: "He is greatly admired for his devotion to public service and strengthening the understanding between Indian tribes, businesses, and the state and local governments. He has clearly, forcefully, and persuasively demonstrated how the impact of Indian law has grown as Indian communities have increased their economic, legal, and political influence, and how it has contributed to that influence." WYLD President J.D. Smith presented the award to Mr. Galanda at the 17th Annual University of Washington Indian Law Symposium on September 9 at William H. Gates Hall, University of Washington. The WYLD Thomas Neville Pro Bono Award will be presented to Beth Colgan of Perkins Coie LLP. The nominating materials state that Ms. Colgan "provides her clients excellence in all forums of advocacy, critical strategic thinking, rock-solid judgment, and respect and compassion in manner and style. She is the rare lawyer who never assumes the limelight and works tirelessly to help clients who have been left behind and have no place to turn for hope." The WYLD Professionalism Award will be presented to Jeffrey L. Fisher of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP for his "success in advocating important constitutional principles before the U.S. Supreme Court, his service to the community, and his contributions to legal education," and for courageously "placing himself squarely in the midst of great constitutional debates, advocating his clients' interests." The WYLD Outstanding Affiliate Organization Award will be presented to the Loren Miller Bar Association for its month-long tribute to the Brown v. Board of Education decision(s), the effort of which "demonstrates professional development shaped by a systemic and unwavering commitment to public education as a means for ensuring justice for all." The 2004 WYLD awards will be presented at various legal community events that are yet to be determined. WYLD Welcomes Newest Law Student Trustees According to the WYLD Bylaws, the membership of the WYLD Board of Trustees shall include three law students elected by their peers, with one law student representing each of the three Washington law schools. We are pleased to announce that the following individuals will be representing Washington law students on the WYLD Board of Trustees from October 2004 to September 2005: Hunter Abell, Gonzaga University; Adam Chin, Seattle University; and Theresa Connor, University of Washington. While the law student trustee positions are nonvoting, the law student trustees are otherwise entitled to full participation in the activities and discussions of the Board of Trustees. WYLD Welcomes Newest Officer At their August 21, 2004, meeting, the WYLD Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Christopher M. Veley, of the Vancouver office of Bullivant Houser Bailey PC, to represent the Southwest District. His term as trustee will commence October 1, 2004, and conclude September 30, 2007. Mr. Veley can be reached at Chris.Veley@bullivant.com or 360-737-2313. For more information about the WYLD, please visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/wyld. Alliance for Equal Justice Open House Project — October 27, 2004 The Alliance for Equal Justice of Washington State is launching its first-ever statewide Open House Project as part of the Washington State Supreme Court's Access to Justice Board's effort to raise public awareness and political support for indigent civil legal aid. Nineteen open houses will be hosted in Washington on Wednesday, October 27, 2004. Please join us and other community members to recognize local volunteer and legal-aid attorneys who contribute their time and efforts to provide justice throughout our state. For more information about the Open House Project, please contact the Equal Justice Coalition at 206-447-8168 or equalj@ejc.org. Bellevue • 4:30 p.m. • Eastside Legal Assistance Program, 1510 140th Ave. NE, Ste. 110 — featured speaker Michael McKay, Legal Services Corporation Trustee King County Seeks Attorneys for Participation on Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Citizen Advisory Boards The King County Department of Community and Human Services is a vital and important department of the King County government. DCHS has seven volunteer boards, which are listed below, and which provide advice and information that informs essential King County human services policy decisions. King County invites inquiries about participation on any of the following boards: For more information on these boards, please visit the King County website at www.metrokc.gov/agencies. WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee to Review Appellate Rules In 2004-2005 the WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee is scheduled to review the Rules of Appellate Procedure (RAP) and the Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (RALJ). The committee will also be reviewing the Mandatory Arbitration Rules (MAR). The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for October 18, 2004, at the WSBA office, commencing at 9:30 a.m. Please send any suggestions for adoption, amendment, or repeal of a court rule to the Supreme Court of Washington, Temple of Justice, PO Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504-9029; or e-mail Lisa Bausch at Lisa.Bausch@courts.wa.gov. Questions about the work of the committee should be directed to Douglas Ende at 206-733-5917 or WSBACourtRules@wsba.org. Senior Attorneys Discussion Group We meet one Thursday a month to talk about issues important to senior attorneys who continue to be involved, creative, healthy, and active. October 21, Pete Roberts, WSBA LOMAP practice management advisor, will teach a hands-on class on PowerPoint. November 11, author Bonnie Genevay will discuss loss, resilience, grief, and aging. December 16, we will share our volunteer activities. Please join us from 4 to 5:40 p.m. at no cost in the WSBA 4th-floor conference room. For more information, call Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at 206-727-8267. Research reports indicate that at least 20 percent of lawyers suffer from clinically significant levels of depression. If you or a colleague is among this group, you might consider the services of the Lawyers' Assistance Program. We will offer a small, confidential therapy group for active members of the WSBA, meeting on Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m., beginning as soon as the group has formed. Cost will be on a sliding-scale basis. If you have questions or would like further information, please call Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at 206-727-8267. Coming Soon: 2005 Annual Publications Catalog The 2005 edition of the Publications Catalog from WSBA-CLE Publications will be in the mail soon. Look for your convenient guide to outstanding products and services from the leader in innovative legal education 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. To help you plan your schedule, WSBA-CLE is 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. MCLE Certification for Group 1 (2002-2004) — Complete Credits by December 31, 2004 If you are a Group 1 member, you will receive a Continuing Legal Education Certification (C2) form in the license packet that will be mailed to you at the beginning of December. This form is an affidavit that lists all the WSBA-approved courses that are listed in your MCLE online profile for the 2002-2004 reporting period. The C2 form, not your online profile, is the official record of MCLE compliance. You may, however, add other courses taken which are not listed to your MCLE profile, then print and attach the profile to the C2 form. Indicate on your C2 form that the attached profile is the true and correct record of the courses taken for the reporting period. Alternatively, you may simply add the additional courses you took by hand to the back of the C2 form (which is the C3 form). The deadline for completing the C2 form and returning it to the WSBA is February 1, 2005. See the section that follows (MCLE Certification for Active Members — General Information) for further information about MCLE reporting period compliance. 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.* Group 1 will be required to report for the 2002-2004 reporting period by March 1, 2005. Credit Requirements. 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 five 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 is 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. Address Update Reminder 2005 license fee renewal packets are scheduled to be mailed in early December. Please update your address no later than October 15 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, 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 (9722) or 206-443-WSBA (9722). "Random Acts of Professionalism" Program The WSBA Professionalism Committee has created a way for lawyers and judges to recognize their colleagues who have conducted themselves in a professional manner consistent with the Creed of Professionalism. Through the "Random Acts of Professionalism" Program, lawyers and judges may nominate their colleagues to receive the award. Nominating a lawyer or judge for the award is very easy — simply send his or her name, along with a brief description of why you are nominating the person, to Judy Berrett, staff liaison to the Professionalism Committee, at judithb@wsba.org, or fax to 206-727-8319. That's all there is to it! The nominated person will receive a letter, a certificate, and a copy of the WSBA Creed of Professionalism. Free Workshop: Access for People with Disabilities to Lawyers and the Justice System, and Best Practices to Access the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Do you know Washington and federal law regarding equal access to services for disabled people? Do you know how to arrange for a qualified sign-language interpreter or assistive technology needed to communicate with deaf or blind clients? Are there physical barriers to your facility? Do you know how to best represent a client with a cognitive impairment? This seminar is for you if you are a lawyer, paralegal, or other staff, or work in the justice system. Light lunch — first come, first served. Wednesday, October 20, 2004, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Washington Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 1206 N. Howard St., Spokane; 509-328-9220, 800-214-3323. Register: www.ewcdhh.org or ewcdhh@ewcdhh.org. Please contact the center by October 15 for accommodation requests. This seminar will be conducted in English and Sign Language. (Continuing Legal Education credits pending; Continuing Judicial Education credits 4.5 (.5 ethics).) Law Day Fundraising Luncheon a Success The Chelan-Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services (VAS) received a total of $10,630 in contributions as a result of a fundraising event on May 14. The mission of VAS is to achieve justice in the community by helping low-income people with civil legal problems receive quality, free legal services. VAS Board members Judith Lurie, Judge T.W. "Chip" Small, Kari Kube, and Robbie Scott; keynote speaker U.S. Attorney General John McKay; VAS Executive Director Javier Barajas; and VAS Board President Russ Speidel were integral to the fundraiser. Starbucks Coffee Company Legal Department Receives Minority Corporate Counsel Association's (MCCA) Employer of Choice Award MCCA has awarded the Starbucks Coffee Company Legal Department the 2004 Employer of Choice Award for contributions in furtherance of diversity in the legal profession. MCCA was founded in 1997 to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA accomplishes its mission through the collection and dissemination of information on diversity in the legal profession. The award will be presented on October 5 at MCCA's Western Regional Diversity Dinner in Beverly Hills, CA. Lawyers' Assistance Program Peer Counselor Statewide Network We are attorneys who volunteer support to others who need someone to listen when times are tough. We are not professional mental-health counselors, but do receive training at our statewide conference in April and regional trainings throughout the year. We seek to expand the diversity we represent and offer to WSBA members. Would you have time and interest in listening, recognizing when a peer needs referral for additional support, attending a training, educating the legal community about the healthy practice of law, and giving of yourself as your time allows? Please call Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at 206-727-8267. WSBA Mileage Reimbursement Rate It is the WSBA's policy to adjust the mileage-reimbursement rate every October to the optional standard business rate set by the IRS. Effective October 1, 2004, the WSBA mileage reimbursement rate for meetings and travel on behalf of the WSBA will increase to $0.375 per mile. For a summary of the WSBA Expense Policy, download the WSBA expense report form at www.wsba.org/info/operations/finance/expensereport.htm. 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 September 2004 was 1.903 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 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 October 22-23 — Richland 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. 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 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/public/consumer. Note: A special discounted rate is available for qualified nonprofit organizations — contact the WSBA Service Center for details. 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 for committees and sections. If you haven't already, please consider providing us with your e-mail address. Contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 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 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. |
