August 2001
The WSBA Long-Range Plan: A Progress Report
by Jan Michels
WSBA Executive Director
janm@wsba.org
In September 1999, as Wayne Blair's WSBA presidency culminated, the Board of Governors adopted the 1999-2003 WSBA Long-Range Strategic Plan (LRSP), "Raising the Bar." Working with committees and staff, the board spent the next year developing strategies and actions that would accomplish the goals of the plan. In July 2000, the board adopted the 2000-2001 Operational Plan with its 208 tasks organized under 11 strategic goals. In tribute to both Presidents Richard Eymann and Jan Eric Peterson, the board, committees and staff have held their focus on the plan. We are now evaluating our progress and casting the plan for 2001-2002.
The LRSP has proven itself in driving the actions of the Bar in the direction members laid out for us. Fiscal year 2002 calls for an overall review of the goals and an extension of the plan for three to five more years. The LRSP represents the year-to-year and board-to-board continuity and stability of the WSBA. We take it seriously, and continue to adjust the LRSP as dictated by the market, changing conditions of the practice of law, and member desires. In 2000-2001 we accomplished many of the targeted action items, and will carry 40 of the remaining items into 2002. Following are some of our major achievements to date, and goals for next year.
Goal 1: Enhance Member Benefits
Accomplishments
- Created the Member Benefits Task Force to examine insurance plans and other direct member benefits.
- Implemented a new MCLE rule whereby the WSBA maintains records of MCLE credits for members.
- Developed and deployed the Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP) Road Show and the technology manual Technology Basics.
Tasks for 2002
- Develop a business plan for supporting member Web sites.
- Implement group purchase and service partnerships.
- Write chapters on marketing, closing a law practice, and marketing options for the LOMAP book Up and Running: Operating Instructions for the Small Office.
- Open the WSBA/LOMAP computer lab.
Goal 2: Conduct Public Legal Education (PLE)
Accomplishments
- Coordinated Law Week.
- Published The Law Book supplement to King County newspapers.
- Conducted Law School for Legislators.
- Began working with KING-5 TV to film legal segments to be featured during news broadcasts.
Tasks for 2002
- Launch gateway Web site of public legal education for the public, teachers and others.
- Create PLE curriculum guide for K-12 teachers.
- Create and distribute legal resource guide to the media.
- Survey civil court users about their legal information needs.
Goal 3: Assure New Lawyer Professional Development
Accomplishments
- Launched annual WSBA orientation to third-year law students.
- Revived and revamped the mentorship program (now known as Lawyer-to-Lawyer).
- Developed the WSBA Membership Guide.
Tasks for 2002
Implement skills training for new admittees.
Revise the Oath of Attorney.
Work with local bar associations to develop a more meaningful admissions ceremony.
Develop student-loan repayment program and debt counseling services.
Work with law schools on a formal Bridge the Gap program.
Goal 4: Promote Professionalism and Civility
Accomplishments
- The WSBA Professionalism Committee developed the Creed of Professionalism.
- Repeated ethics workshop.
- Honored local hero as part of each board meeting.
- Featured Proud to Be a Lawyer vignettes daily on the WSBA Web site (www.wsba.org).
Tasks for 2002
- Purchase and use public service ads about the good lawyers do.
- Document the level of pro bono work by members.
Goal 5: Address Future Practice of Law Issues
Accomplishments
- Defined the practice of law.
- Recommended Practice of Law Board rule to Supreme Court.
- Implemented the Future Practices Committee, who will make a multidisciplinary practice recommendation to the board this summer, and continue to study multijurisdictional practice.
- Instituted a consortium of Internet practice interests.
- Worked with Idaho and Oregon state bars on mutual reciprocity rules.
Tasks for 2002
- Implement Practice of Law Board to review nonlawyer practice.
- Launch portal on Web site to a myriad of Internet legal services.
- Establish Law on the Internet Committee.
Goal 6: Maintain Responsible, Timely and Fair Regulatory Services
Accomplishments
- Brought discipline investigations current.
- Reviewed Rules of Lawyer Discipline and developed recommendations for clarifying and improving them.
- Implemented credit-card payment of license fees.
Tasks for 2002
- Meet discipline investigations and prosecution aspirational guidelines.
- Implement recommendations of Discipline 2000.
- Monitor and evaluate ABA's changes to Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
Goal 7: Access to Justice
Accomplishments
- Board for Judicial Administration (BJA) and the Washington State Bar Association adopted resolutions declaring access to justice as a fundamental right, and supporting the need for increased resources.
- Developed and pilot-tested online interactive forms for victims of domestic violence.
- Published an Open Society Institute-funded book A Road Map for Building an Equal Justice Community.
Tasks for 2002
- Conduct a civil legal services needs assessment.
- Develop an Access to Justice Technology Bill of Rights to ensure that current and future technology both increases opportunities and eliminates barriers to access for justice.
- Implement Corporate Counsel Partnership for Justice Videophone Client Counseling Project statewide.
- Expand the number and kind of online forms.
Goal 8: Promote Technology
Accomplishments
- Added secure transactions and e-commerce to the WSBA Web site (www.wsba.org).
- Published Technology Basics for members.
Tasks for 2002
- Obtain public case law online free of charge.
- Revitalize the WSBA Web site with interactivity, and make it more lively and interesting.
Goal 9: Promote Independence of Judiciary and Court Improvement
Accomplishments
- Worked with BJA to pass portability amendment for voter consideration.
- Supported jury improvement planning and legislation.
- Secured passage of the WSBA's five legislative initiatives.
Tasks for 2002
- Establish key issue file and resources to respond to criticism of judges.
- Work with BJA to define court-management best practices.
- Evaluate defense in capital cases.
Goal 10: Diversity
Accomplishments
- Implemented two at-large seats to increase the representativeness of the Board of Governors.
- Held listening lunches around the state to hear from members, especially those living in rural and smaller towns, and those working in government and nonstandard practice.
- Created ongoing dialog with minority bar associations.
Tasks for 2002
- Address the public perception of disparity of treatment in the justice system for persons of color.
- Support programs for gender equity.
- Establish BOG liaisons with minority bar associations.
Goal 11: Be Fiscally Responsible
Accomplishments
- Developed long-range financial forecasting.
- Established the Facilities Committee.
- Developed a Business Recovery Plan.
- Published the WSBA's financial results and budgets on our Web site.
Tasks for 2002
- Develop nonlicense-fee sources of revenue to support WSBA discretionary services.
- Resolve CLE overhead and other cost increases.
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