In the tradition of New Years' resolutions, the Board of Governors has committed to the 2002 Operational Plan. When Governor Ken Davidson, chair of the WSBA Long-Range Planning Committee, presented the plan to the board, he commented that "the WSBA thinks it can get all this done in a year." Despite the anxiety I felt as he walked the board through the many action items in the plan, I thought of this opportunity as a gift. The operational plan allows members, via the board, to tell WSBA staff what they want. Based on member input, the Long-Range Planning Committee tailors the work of WSBA staff to meet membership needs. What follows is a list of goals for 2002.
• Implement the Practice of Law Board and begin the process of examining areas of unlicensed practice for licensing and prosecution.
• Improve the justice system by supporting jury improvements, the portable use of judges, long-term funding strategies, and consolidation of local rules; by strengthening the role of presiding judges; and by emphasizing treatment over incarceration for low-level drug offenses.
• Implement new member benefits such as group insurance benefit packages, the new CLE tracking and member-access program, the addition of member Web site addresses to online directory listings, law office management assistance, and a new Personal Assistance Program (similar to the Lawyers' Assistance Program) for judicial members.
• Increase access and information flow to and from members with more electronic communication, faster posting of new information on the WSBA Web site, and redesign of the site to make searches easier and more intuitive.
• Make internal improvements including replacement of an outdated phone system; replacement of processing software for CLE, discipline and member data; and increased use of electronic commerce.
• Assist new-lawyer development with more targeted and subsidized CLEs for new lawyers, bar fairs at the three state law schools, and more meaningful oath and swearing-in ceremonies.
• Continue the positive visibility of lawyers and the law through the KING-TV "Legally Speaking" series, "local hero" awards, a public-service advertising campaign, wide distribution of the
8 Myths Truths About Lawyers brochure, and posting of the Creed of Professionalism in all courthouses.
• Promote equal access to justice through adequate funding and incentives for pro bono service, by increasing self-help through technology, and by adding JAG officers to the pro bono corps.
• Help members with the business side of practice as economics tighten by establishing a computer lab for law-office-management software, evaluating the possibility of offering Web site development assistance, beginning the collection of practice-area information so it can eventually be added to the online lawyer directory, and exploring Internet options in the practice of law.
• Be fiscally responsible by strategically reviewing, for possible savings or reduction of overlap and duplication, non-program committees, the structure and function of the WSBA Foundation, and office-space costs. The WSBA will also look for nonlicense-fee revenue from discretionary services. 2002 is the year to develop scenarios about the future years' needs and license fees, and to meet our commitment to members to develop the prudent eight percent reserve by the end of 2003 by trimming WSBA staff, through attrition, by five positions.
• Assure that the WSBA is inclusive and welcoming to all members, valuing the diversity of practice area, geography, ethnicity, age, faith, opinions, language, and other factors that make our membership rich and varied.
As you see, 2002 will be an active year. The WSBA staff and I look forward to working with you. Happy New Year!
