April 2001

FYI—For Your Information

2001 WSBA Awards Nominations Sought

Nomination deadline: May 1, 2001

Each year, members of the Washington State Bar Association are asked to identify those individuals who deserve the legal profession's recognition and thanks. Nominations are sought for the following awards:

This is the WSBA's highest honor. It was first given in 1957. In general, the Award of Merit is 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 given to individuals only — both lawyers and nonlawyers.

As the name implies, this award is given for special accomplishment or service to the WSBA during the term of the current president.

This honor is awarded to a WSBA member 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.

This award is 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. The selection criterion is a significant contribution by a lawyer in government service to the legal profession, the justice system and the public.

This award may be presented to a judge from any level of court. It is presented for outstanding service to the bench and for special contribution to the legal profession.

This award is presented to a lawyer, nonlawyer, law firm or local bar association for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono services to the poor. This award is based on cumulative efforts, as opposed to a lawyer's or law firm's pro bono hours or financial contribution.

This award is presented to a lawyer who has displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity, thus bringing credit to the legal profession.

This award is made to a lawyer or law firm making a significant contribution to affirmative action in the employment of ethnic minorities, women and the disabled in the legal profession within the state of Washington.

This award is presented to an elected official for outstanding service to Washington citizens, with special contributions to the legal profession. The recipient has demonstrated a commitment to justice beyond the usual call of duty.

This award recognizes that describing the context, facts and players involved in our legal system with fairness and sensitivity requires intelligence, knowledge, dedication and high skill levels. This award is given to the journalist and their organization who set the standard for relevance, clarity, accuracy and understanding in their reporting.

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.

It is important to note that presentation of any WSBA awards is made only when there are truly deserving recipients. Some years, no award is given in some categories. Awards will be presented at the WSBA annual business meeting and awards dinner.

Send nominations to the Office of the Executive Director, WSBA, Attn: Awards, 2101 Fourth Ave., Fourth Fl. Seattle, WA 98121-2330; fax 206-727-8319; e-mail oed@wsba.org.   

Filing deadline: July 13, 2001

Young lawyers interested in serving as president-elect of the WYLD are invited to submit a statement of eligibility and qualifications for this position. The president-elect automatically succeeds to the position of the president of the WYLD upon completion of a one-year term commencing October 1, 2001. To be eligible for the position, a candidate must have a principal place of business in Washington, and must be a member of the WYLD at the time he or she assumes the office of president. Additionally, the Bylaws require that the president and president-elect have principal places of business in different counties. Therefore, this year's candidates may not have a principal place of business in King County. An active member of the Washington State Bar Association is also a member of the Washington Young Lawyers Division until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 36, or until December 31 of the fifth year in which he or she has been admitted to practice, whichever is later.

Direct statements of eligibility and qualifications to:

The University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences will present the Distinguished Alumna Award to Attorney General Christine Gregoire on May 11, 2001. The Celebration of Distinction dinner will be held in the student union building at the University of Washington Seattle campus. Individual tickets may be purchased for $150 per person, and tables of 10 are available from $1,500 to $25,000. For more information, contact Patricia Di Palms at 206-616-6226 or dipalma@u.washington.edu. 

The WSBA Elder Law Section made a $10,000 donation to Legal Aid for Washington (LAW) Fund on February 12. This is the second year that the section's 545 members have donated to LAW Fund. The Elder Law Section is committed to improving access to services needed by the elderly, such as low-cost legal services, insurance and health care. LAW Fund was chosen as the donation recipient because it assists the elderly in accessing such services.

WestCoast Hotels, the WSBA and Legal Aid for Washington (LAW) Fund have created a partnership to raise funds for low-income legal services. Through the end of 2001, WestCoast Hotels will make donations to LAW Fund, based on the number of nights that anyone associated with the WSBA stays at any of the 47 Washington WestCoast Hotels. By simply asking for the WSBA rate, guests will receive a reduced room rate, and LAW Fund will receive $5 for each night's stay. Contact WestCoast Hotels at 800-325-4000.

The WSBA publication Managing Client Trust Accounts: Rules, Regulations and Common Sense is available to members free of charge. To order a copy, call the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA. Please note that this publication is also available on the WSBA Web site (www.wsba.org/media/publications/pamphlets/
managing.htm), and is printed in the 1999-2000 Resources (p. 478). The WSBA audit department is also available to answer your questions about trust accounts. Call Julie Mass at 206-727-8242 or Tim Dobler at 206-733-5937.

Under the leadership of Seattle lawyer Ron Bemis, the WSBA Law Week 2001 Committee is actively recruiting volunteer lawyers and judges to participate in Law Week during the week of May 1. The program is designed to increase students' understanding of the important role the law plays in their lives. Last year, over 12,000 Washington students and nearly 500 lawyers and judges participated in the program. For more information or to volunteer, visit the Law Week Web site at www.lawweek.org, or call Lisa KauzLoric at 206-733-5944.

The Board of Governors meeting schedule is as follows:

With the exception of a one-hour executive session the morning of the first day, BOG meetings are open, and all WSBA members are welcome to attend. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. Please contact Lori Lee at 206-727-8244 or e-mail oed@wsba.org. 

The WSBA World Peace Through Law Section will sponsor an awards luncheon to honor an individual who has made significant contributions toward the goal of achieving international peace. The Ralph J. Bunche Award, named for the winner of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize, will be presented. The award ceremony will be held May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle. The cost is $15. For information or to reserve space, contact Paul Schlossman at 253-473-0537 or 
paaaaas@yahoo.com.   

The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in March 2001 is 4.70% percent. The maximum allowable interest rate for April 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-June 1999 appear on page 53 of the June 1999 Bar News.  Information from January 1987 to date is available online.  

Forms Revised to Comply with GR 14

The following sets of forms have been reformatted to comply with General Rule 14 margin requirements that are mandatory effective April 1, 2001: domestic relations; domestic violence; anti-harassment; misdemeanor judgement and sentencing; juvenile court.

In addition to margin changes, domestic relations, domestic violence, and juvenile court forms contain some substantive changes. The forms, summaries and instructions are available to view or download at no charge on the court's Web site at http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms. For more information, call the Office of the Administrator for the Courts forms line at 360-705-5328.

The WSBA annual awards dinner and business meeting will be held Thursday, September 13, 2001. Details about the time and location will appear in the next issue of Bar News.

The Council of Appellate Lawyers has been created as an entity of the American Bar Association to assist in the professional development of lawyers practicing appellate law. The council will conduct a program in New York in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Council of Chief Judges of Courts of Appeal in October. Membership in the Council of Appellate Lawyers is open to any lawyer who practices, teaches or has an interest in appellate law and procedure. For more information, contact Melissa Sehstedt at 800-238-2667, ext. 5704, or sehstedm@staff.abanet.org. 

The 2001 WYLD Midyear Meeting will be held at the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores, April 27-28. The conference will feature an opening ceremony luncheon with a keynote speaker, the President's Reception, WYLD Awards Luncheon, and a closing ceremony and reception for WSBA dignitaries. There will be a CLE program designed to promote professionalism and practice skills, as well as a technology CLE with hands-on training and laptop computers available. Because the WYLD midyear was chosen as the site of the ABA Western States Regional Conference, the midyear is expected to attract ABA members, including ABA officers and dignitaries from several western states. For more information, contact Lisa KauzLoric at 206-733-5944 or lisak@wsba.org,  or visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/wyld/. 

The Access to Justice Board and Washington Young Lawyers Division have collaborated to kick off the Greater Access and Assistance Project (GAAP) pilot program in Spokane and Thurston counties. GAAP is a county-by-county panel of attorneys who will represent eligible, low-income clients on a discounted fee basis. A growing segment of the population, often fully employed, are increasingly unable to afford legal representation, but also aren't eligible for free legal services potentially available for those with incomes below the poverty level. The GAAP program is intended to fill this "gap."

Lawyers in Spokane and Thurston counties are invited to participate on the GAAP panel. Please contact Joe Panesko in Thurston County at 360-586-0643, or Mark Kim in Spokane County at 509-484-1001. For more information about starting a GAAP panel in your county, please contact Brian M. Born at 253-383-7058.

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