April 2007

Goodbye さようなら до свидания 再見 Huy 안녕 Adiós

M. Janice Michels, WSBA Executive Director

Goodbye words are hard to say and even harder to live and feel. I'm giving my farewell with the richest of emotions and fondest of memories I have accumulated over nine years of experience with the WSBA, its leaders, staff, and members, and I leave bursting with pride in the many accomplishments and successes we have had together.

My daughter, Kristan, in describing raising her newborn child last fall, could only say, "I am so honored to be shaping her life." I feel the same about the WSBA. The body of work presented to me in the spring of 1998 was fledgling. The 1990s had been tumultuous for the WSBA, with licensing-fee contentions, low staff morale, and members demanding — and deserving — more transparency. To the outside world, the WSBA was quiescent and just beginning to develop and move the agenda of "Justice for All," timely and proportionate discipline, and valuing member relations. In my interview for the executive director position, I was asked what I thought of the State Bar. I could only say, "It seems sleepy for an organization of over 25,000 members." Well, it isn't sleepy anymore! We're internally vital, respected, appreciated by many members, enjoy a national reputation for innovation and action on behalf of members and justice, and we're on the forefront of discipline diversion, new lawyer development, and leadership development. We enjoy respectful and productive relations with the Legislature, the Governor's office, and the Supreme Court. It's been an honor for me to have helped shape and move these achievements. These are some of the highlights from 1998 to the present.

Timely and effective discipline

In 1998, it took up to five years to resolve a grievance. Members and their insurers were just hanging in the gloom for years. By 2002, the WSBA was meeting the Board-adopted aspirational guidelines of 90 percent of grievances being resolved within 90 days. Thanks for this feat go to Barrie Althoff, Joy McLean, and a superb disciplinary counsel team. In 2006, the ABA was invited to do a "spot check" on the WSBA's discipline system, and they noted significant innovations and improvements since their first look at a deteriorated system in 1995.

Open records and meetings

In 2000, the Board of Governors adopted a Bylaw change mirroring the state's public disclosure and open meetings acts. Since that time, all WSBA Board meetings, committee meetings, and other activities have been made as transparent and open as possible. Meeting minutes and financial statements are routinely posted on the WSBA website.

Addition of web access and an interactive website

Coming into the modern times with technology, the WSBA added what has grown to a 5,000-page website. The web offers members and the public up-to-date event notices; CLE schedules and credit tracking; a lawyer look-up sortable by practice area and geographic area; a myriad of information about the WSBA and its activities; articles of interest from Bar News; and individual pages for sections, committees, and the WYLD.

Casemaker

Access to electronic legal research without charge was added to WSBA member benefits in 2005. The databases available on this much-used site are ever growing, as are the search tools.

Culturally diverse and competent

Some members chafe at the word "diversity" and the many WSBA efforts to embrace diversity of all kinds in its Board, committees, and appointments. Diversity at the WSBA is not about political correctness; it is about embracing the breadth of our membership and our future, and recognizing that this country's and our state's lawyers and client base are multiethnic, multilingual, and multicultural. Embracing diversity is about being a good world citizen. Since 1998, the WSBA has increased the diversity of the Board of Governors, implemented by a broad definition of diversity, added a diversity advocate position, and funded the WSBA Leadership Institute, creating a pipeline of diverse candidates for leadership roles.

New quarters with a potential of a 20-year lease

In December 2006, we culminated a four-year effort to locate and move to new quarters. The choice to move was based on member and staff input about the important factors for the look and feel of the WSBA headquarters. At the new location in Puget Sound Plaza, the WSBA enjoys professional, well-managed quarters, easy access and parking, a favorable lease which is extendable for up to 20 years, and space enough for current staff and projected staff growth for the term of the lease. This move was accomplished within the budget set aside for this purpose.

License fee stability

Since 2002, the WSBA has managed to accommodate growth in members, services, and staff with less-than-inflationary annual license fee increases. This has been possible through prudent management, new-member growth, and the adjustments to self-supporting services.

Strong and stable operations

Though perhaps a mundane accomplishment to some, the WSBA's success in establishing a strong internal infrastructure has allowed us to excel in our programs and services and work more efficiently and cost-effectively. Our fiscal policies and controls pass audits without findings or management notes, technology supports all WSBA regulatory systems and other programs, and prudent human resource policies and practices have kept us out of court on personnel matters for the past nine years. We have built a base of policies and procedures which operate like a variation of the rule of law in creating consistency in the predictability of our regulatory functions and fiscal decisions. Having appropriate policies and procedures also adds to the transparency of the WSBA to its members.

Voice of the profession

The WSBA exercises a strong voice on public policy in the areas of court funding, public defense, civil legal services, and public legal education. Our credibility is high, and our opinions are listened to by policy makers.

In closing…

I have had the pleasure of supporting 10 WSBA presidents and 53 Board members, each with their unique flavor and bent. I count many of these past presidents and governors as friends. I have met and worked with countless bar leaders of local, specialty, and minority bar associations; WSBA sections and committees; law-related entities; and special task forces. I have encountered exceptional lawyers committed to their community and profession.

I am honored to have worked with WSBA directors and staff, all of whom represent the highest levels of professionalism and caliber. I want to stress how fortunate the WSBA is to attract and retain the staff we have. Staff are the backbone of the WSBA and hold a passionate commitment to elevating the practice of law and supporting the Board, members, and citizens of the state. These are 140 of the most hard-working and dedicated persons the WSBA could wish for. They have earned my deepest respect and gratitude.

These past nine years have been rewarding and fulfilling, and I thank you for the honor of serving as your executive director. 

WSBA Executive Director Jan Michels can be reached until April 30 at janm@wsba.org.

Thank you! ありがとう!Спасибо! 謝謝! Há'neng cen! 너를 감사하십시요! ¡Gracias!