September 2002  

by Jan Michels
WSBA Executive Director
janm@wsba.org

In the annual report, you will read about the many accomplishments of "Bar Year 2001-2002." In the president's column and annual awards roster, you will read about the people who made these accomplishments happen. I will focus on the stage we're setting for next year and the influence of the Board of Governors (BOG) in moving 2002-2003 action plans forward.

On July 25, the BOG invited governors-elect, key Bar staff, five former governors, and one past-president to meet at a planning retreat. The framing question for the day was: "What should the WSBA focus on in 2002 and 2003?"

Background materials included the1999-2003 Long-Range Strategic Plan, summaries of comments from listening sessions with members, and a progress assessment on the 2001-2002 WSBA Operational Plan. Governor Ken Davidson (8th District), chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee, facilitated the day. After a brainstorming discussion drew out areas of concern, the group broke into discussion groups to study the issues raised and develop recommended action plans. The group then prioritized nearly 25 action recommendations. The governors, individually and as a board, will set final priorities and steer the association toward accomplishing our goals.

Many of the discussion topics and action recommendations have a direct bearing on the practice of law, the image of the profession, WSBA governance and member relations. We have learned that most members support the concept of self-regulation of lawyers by the WSBA, and most agree that the WSBA should also provide member services. However, there is wide breadth to these parameters. One overreaching goal of the BOG is that members are invited to understand and participate in this direction and policy-setting.

This area will be a presidential focus in 2002-2003. The BOG will delve back to high-school career counseling, college-aptitude testing, law-school disclosures about the realities of practicing law, law-school curricula, the possible need for internships or apprenticeships, revisions to the bar exam, character and fitness screening, and, finally, reconsider how we orient new lawyers to the profession.

With the increasing use of technology that supports and even replaces some in-person contact, more lawyers are becoming sole practitioners; many are practicing from their home. Law firm and private practices that require an increasing numbers of work hours can lead to isolation and lack of time for involvement in the promotion of the profession's higher ideals. The BOG will continue to foster professionalism and work to enhance the image of lawyers to the public.

Secondly, the BOG intends to work with neighboring states on multijurisdictional practices, closer alignment of professional-conduct rules, and more convenient and accessible CLEs and admission courses.

Finally, the BOG will support the important work of the new Practice of Law Board in reviewing nonlawyer practices for potential prosecution or for regulation in specific areas identified as appropriate for nonlawyers.

The BOG wants to be sure it has strong communication with members. The BOG intends to examine electronic communication; a special online version of Bar News; and ways to disseminate information, news, and descriptions of available services more meaningfully.

The BOG recognizes that the average member is quite removed from the WSBA, and may identify more closely with a specialty or minority bar association. The BOG desires to support and communicate with these bar associations, and encourage their organized participation in WSBA policy development and leadership.

There is a crisis in the funding and delivery of civil legal-justice services to low-income persons. The board plans to work in conjunction with the Supreme Court's Civil Legal Services Funding Task Force, the Access to Justice Board, the Equal Justice Coalition and others, to develop common strategies and funding sources. The board will also probe defense issues from an access-to-justice point of view.

These important directions for the coming year will be broken into action steps. Governors and their constituents' feedback will chart the course for the future of the profession.