August 2000

Emeritus Program Training Sessions Scheduled Statewide

Attorney Bill Wesselhoeft recently received the King County Bar Association Pro Bono Award for his outstanding volunteer efforts through the emeritus program. According to Mr. Wesselhoeft, "The emeritus status offers an opportunity for the semi-retired lawyer to exercise knowledge and skill that he or she has acquired over the years, and obtain a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction by helping others."

In 1998, the Washington State Supreme Court approved the adoption of APR 8(e), which creates a limited license status of emeritus for attorneys otherwise retired from the practice of law.

The practice of a lawyer admitted under this section is limited to: providing legal services for no fee through a qualified legal services provider, or serving as an unpaid governing or advisory board member or trustee of, or providing legal counsel or service for no fee to, a qualified legal services provider. The goal of this rule is to encourage pro bono participation by highly skilled and experienced attorneys and judges who wish to make a contribution to current access to justice-related efforts.

To qualify for emeritus status, an attorney must be in current good standing as a lawyer, and meet minimum active practice experience requirements. Emeritus lawyers pay the same license fee as inactive members. Emeritus attorneys will be covered by the legal service provider’s malpractice policy.

Emeritus attorneys must complete a free training course prior to being admitted as an emeritus member. Courses are being planned regionally throughout Washington in an effort to allow local service providers (legal services programs, volunteer attorney legal services programs and others) to showcase specific pro bono programs in their communities and to make it more convenient for interested lawyers to participate.

The King and Pierce Counties training session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26, 20009 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WSBA office in Seattle. Other training sessions will be held in Olympia, Everett and Spokane later in the year. Please contact Sharlene Steele at 206-727-8262 or sharlene@wsba.org  for more information or to register for an emeritus training session.

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