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April 2006Leading in the 21st Century: The WSBA Leadership Institute Enters Its Second Yearby Joslyn K.N. Donlin Now in its second year, the WSBA Leadership Institute has recruited a new slate of eager, talented participants whose backgrounds are as diverse as their opportunities are limitless, and who will go on to enrich the legal profession and their communities. Starting Off with a Bang The WSBA Leadership Institute was founded in February 2005 to promote diversity in the legal profession by training lawyers from underrepresented groups for leadership positions. Within six months, the WSBA Leadership Institute was honored with the prestigious ABA Partnership Award — given to bar associations who have made significant efforts to increase diversity in the legal profession — for its unique and groundbreaking leadership program — a remarkable accomplishment. Graduates of the 2005 WSBA Leadership Institute have gone on to apply their new skills and unique perspectives in a variety of WSBA-related leadership activities. Core Curriculum, Program Benefits, and Commitments One of the goals of the Leadership Institute is to institutionalize an experiential and collaborative instruction model of leadership training. The program emphasizes professional training, the development of skills and techniques, curriculum modules, and learning strategies not typically found in law-school classrooms. Leadership Institute fellows benefit from the latest trends in professional leadership development; exposure to the legislative and judicial systems; interaction with high-level state and local officials and judges; and opportunities to meet high-profile practicing attorneys from the private and public sectors. The WSBA Leadership Institute is a two-year commitment. Following the completion of the first year, fellows are expected to provide one year of service by becoming actively involved in a WSBA section, committee, or Bar-related activity. The Leadership Institute recognizes that many lawyers — particularly those from diverse backgrounds and other underrepresented groups — have not been traditionally recruited for leadership positions or made aware of opportunities for leadership training and professional development available through the WSBA. To be considered for the program, applicants must: 1) complete an application, with cover letter, résumé, and three references; 2) be an active WSBA member; 3) have practiced law in a U.S. jurisdiction for three to 10 years; 4) be nominated by his/her employer, or if self-employed, by another individual; and 5) provide evidence of interest in community and WSBA activities. Applications for the 2007 WSBA Leadership Institute will be available by mid-summer 2006 for submission in early fall. 2006 WSBA Leadership Institute Fellows The fellows of the Leadership Institute class of 2006 are highly accomplished and talented, reflecting the diversity within the WSBA and closely representing the profile of attorneys in the 21st century. Of the 12 fellows, seven are women and four represent geographic locations outside Seattle. There is one African American, two Caucasians, two Latinos, one Latina, one Korean, one Irani, one Filipina, one Umatilla American Indian, one Vietnamese, one East Indian, and one from the GLBT community. A variety of practice areas and practice types are represented. Advisory Board The WSBA Leadership Institute Advisory Board is responsible for the overall mission, function, and delivery of the program. In 2006, the primary responsibilities of the Advisory Board will be to organize, develop, implement, and evaluate the Leadership Institute. Each member of the Advisory Board also serves as a facilitator for at least one of the eight sessions. Currently, the Advisory Board is composed of Washington state attorneys and judges, and includes the WSBA president (as an ex-officio member), representatives from minority bar associations, a WSBA Young Lawyers Division representative, a member of the Board of Governors (who also serves as a liaison to that body), and three former WSBA presidents. Diversity Advocate Joslyn K.N. Donlin is the staff liaison. Highlights of the Second Year's Session One On the first day of session one, WSBA Immediate Past President Ron Ward gave a heart-warming and passionate welcome emphasizing the goals and background of the Leadership Institute and his hopes and dreams for the class of 2006. James Williams facilitated the day's discussion on leadership skills and, as one fellow commented, "epitomizes the heart and soul" of the program. Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez, and Jeffery Robinson, a prominent defense attorney with Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, all returned by popular demand to help commence session one. They inspired the fellows by recounting their challenges and triumphs with personal stories. As one fellow commented on Justice Fairhurst's collaborative leadership style, "[I] loved her explanation of using your team and creating a place for everyone to contribute. An excellent model of nurturing and leading at high levels." Another fellow said, "Lots of good quotes, especially the question, 'What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?'" One fellow commented on Robinson's story about his parents and the integration of the Memphis schools: "Hearing him talk about his parents marching [with Martin Luther King Jr.] and his integrating the Memphis schools was incredibly powerful and moving." One of the highlights of day two was an entertaining presentation by Ann MacFarlane, an expert on parliamentary procedure, entitled "Jurassic Parliament." Through the use of toy dinosaurs, MacFarlane took Roberts Rules of Order and made it into a practical and easy way to learn parliamentary procedure. Fellows will always remember the difference between motions and amendments and points of order and points of information! As a lead-in to the 2006 community-service project, class of 2005 fellows Angelique Davis and Daniel Russ shared an overview of the class of 2005 community-service project entitled "Profiles of Diversity and Leadership," which chronicles the personal stories of diverse attorneys throughout the state, and how they overcame challenges in pursuit of their dreams of becoming attorneys. It is the hope of the class of 2005 that by sharing these inspirational stories, students at all levels will be encouraged to pursue the legal profession. The profiles can be found at the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/diversityprofiles.htm. 2005 Class Reunion Following the first day of session one, a reunion dinner for the class of 2005 took place. They were joined by the 2006 fellows, Leadership Institute Advisory Board members, WSBA President-elect Ellen Conedera Dial, and WSBA Governor Kristal Wiitala. Fellows from both the 2005 and the 2006 classes were able to meet one another and compare notes on leadership skills and balancing one's professional and personal life. Following the dinner, 2005 fellows Beth Barrett Bloom and Carrie Carter Coppinger provided some words of wisdom about how to make the most of the Leadership Institute sessions. The WSBA and the legal community are already benefiting from the leadership skills of the class of 2005. Michael Heath and Beth Barrett Bloom are president and president-elect, respectively, of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Bar Association, also known as QLaw, established in 2005. Also, Kim Tran and Michael Heath are co-chairs of the first Statewide Diversity Conference to be held on June 1-2 at Seattle University School of Law. Further, in the January 2006 issue of Washington Law & Politics, most of the 2005 class were named "Rising Stars." Lastly, class of 2005 members are serving their one-year commitment on either a WSBA committee, section, or Bar-related activity. The WSBA Leadership Institute graduates will no doubt fulfill the mission of the program by holding prominent state and national leadership positions in the legal profession, judiciary, and government. They will be the faces of leadership in the law of the 21st century. We will all be so proud!
James F. Williams, chair Joslyn K.N. Donlin, formerly an attorney in private practice, was selected to be the first diversity advocate for the WSBA. Joslyn brings with her a background in both education and law, as well as in diversity training. For the past three years, Joslyn has been involved with the WSBA Committee for Diversity, helping to lead efforts to promote and increase diversity within the Bar. For more information about the WSBA Leadership Institute, she can be reached at joslynd@wsba.org or 206-727-8216.
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