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WSBA Chief Hearing Officer The WSBA Board of Governors invites applications from members interested in serving as chief hearing officer (CHO) pursuant to Rule 2.5(f) of the Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct. The CHO, with support from the Office of General Counsel, is responsible for assigning hearing officers to cases, monitoring and evaluating the performance of hearing officers, establishing and supervising hearing officer training, hearing pre-hearing motions when no hearing officer has been assigned, and performing other administrative duties necessary for an efficient and effective hearing system. Applicants should be familiar with the disciplinary system and have excellent legal reasoning skills, management aptitude, appellate practice experience, judicial bearing, an impartial demeanor, and a commitment to public service. Candidates with experience as a WSBA hearing officer will be given the strongest consideration. The position is on a one-year independent contractor basis, with compensation to be determined. Interested members should submit a letter of interest, signed Authorization to Release Confidential/Non-Public Information Form (available at www.wsba.org/info/forms.htm), references, and résumé to: Office of General Counsel, WSBA, 1325 4th Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539 not later than January 15, 2009. The Defender Association Board of Directors The Defender Association, a nonprofit and local government contractor providing indigent defense to individuals in King County and the City of Seattle in felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, family advocacy, and civil commitment cases, sexual offender commitment, and appeals at all levels of the state courts, seeks one member to serve a three-year term on its Board of Directors. The incumbent is eligible to apply. The term will commence upon appointment and expire December 31, 2011. The board generally meets 10 times per year. Women and minorities are urged to apply. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to: Bar Leaders Division, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101, or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org. Washington State Access to Justice Board The Washington State Access to Justice Board (ATJ Board) announces two vacancies: one for an existing term starting immediately upon appointment and ending May 2010; the other for a regular term beginning May 2009. At least one of these positions must be filled by a non-lawyer. Details about the positions and the work of the ATJ Board can be found online at www.wsba.org/atj. The Washington State Supreme Court established the Access to Justice Board in 1994 to assure equal access to the civil justice system for those facing economic and other significant barriers. The ATJ Board works to achieve this mission through the oversight of its State Plan for Delivery of Civil Legal Aid; coordinating and implementing statewide initiatives for improving access for unrepresented and underrepresented populations in Washington state; and building leadership, funding, and other support for equal access to the civil justice system. The ATJ Board consists of nine members, including up to two lay members, selected on the basis of a demonstrated commitment to, and familiarity with, access to justice issues. Board members may serve up to two three-year terms. The ATJ Board has approximately seven full-day meetings throughout the year in Seattle. Additionally, the Board has an annual retreat and meets at the annual Access to Justice Conference. Travel expenses are reimbursed. Responsibilities of ATJ Board members include attending Board meetings and the annual planning sessions; serving as liaison to at least one Board committee; and actively participating in Board initiatives. A demonstrated commitment to equal justice principles and an enthusiastic commitment to serve in equal justice community leadership are required, as are strong communication skills and an ability to see the “big picture.” Courage, compassion, consideration, patience, humility, passion, and humor are all valuable traits in ATJ Board members. The ATJ Board strives to have a membership that reflects inclusion, diversity (including geographic diversity), and cross-cultural competence. Please submit letters of interest and résumés, including a summary of qualifications, to: Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org. For more information about the Access to Justice Board or this position, contact WSBA Justice Programs Manager Joan Fairbanks at 206-727-8282, 800-945-9722, ext. 8262, or joanf@wsba.org, or visit www.wsba.org/atj. Office of Public Defense Advisory Committee The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting letters of interest and résumés from members interested in serving a three-year term on the Office of Public Defense Advisory Committee. The three-year term will commence upon appointment and run through December 31, 2011. A written expression of interest and résumé are also required in the event that the incumbent seeks reappointment. The Office of Public Defense Advisory Committee meets quarterly to set policies for appellate indigent-defense funding, approve legislative and rule requests, review budgetary matters, oversee new programs, and consider appeals of billing decisions. During the term of appointment, no appointee may: (a) provide indigent defense services except on a pro bono basis; (b) serve as an appellate judge or an appellate court employee; or (c) serve as a prosecutor or prosecutor employee. Committee members receive no compensation for their services as members of the Committee, but may be reimbursed for travel and other expenses in accordance with rules adopted by the Office of Financial Management. Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to: Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org. Seeking Questionnaires from Candidates for Judicial Appointments The WSBA Judicial Recommendation Committee (JRC) is accepting questionnaires from attorneys and judges seeking consideration for appointment to fill potential Washington State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals vacancies. Interested individuals will be interviewed by the Committee on the dates listed above. The JRC’s recommendations are reviewed by the WSBA Board of Governors and referred to the Governor for consideration when making judicial appointments. Materials must be received at the WSBA office by the deadline listed above. To obtain a questionnaire, visit the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/judicial 2009 Licensing Information and Changes Licensing Forms Changes. In an effort to control costs and simplify renewal, the 2009 licensing forms have been condensed into one double-sided form or two forms for those reporting MCLE credits this year. One change to note: The form(s) will be mailed the first week of December in a standard-size envelope. Instructions are available online at www.wsba.org/licensing. February 2, 2009, deadline. Payment may be made online; however, even if payment is made online, all active members must return the A1 licensing form, completed on both sides and signed on the back. Verify your address in the online lawyer directory (http://pro.wsba.org). You are required to keep your contact information current; see Admission to Practice Rule 13. If you have not received the 2009 licensing forms by mid-December, you may print them online or call the WSBA Service Center. WSBA Bylaw Section II.E.1.b. on Armed Forces Fee Exemption provides for a fee exemption for eligible members of the Armed Forces whose WSBA membership status is active. The WSBA will accept fee exemption requests from December 1, 2008, until March 2, 2009, for the 2009 licensing year. “Foundations of American Democracy” Civics Pamphlet Now Available The WSBA now offers a pamphlet for the public called “Foundations of American Democracy” that describes the basics of American government: the rule of law, the separation of powers, checks and balances, and a fair and impartial judiciary. It also includes a short quiz and a list of useful websites. Lawyers and judges are encouraged to bring the pamphlet with them when they speak to students or the public in schools, courtrooms, and the community. Teachers may also request the pamphlet for classroom use. The WSBA can provide reasonable numbers of copies at no charge, or the pamphlet may be downloaded from the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/foad.htm. Requests for copies should be directed to Pam Inglesby, WSBA public legal education manager, at pami@wsba.org. Thinking of Changing Your WSBA Membership Status? Consider Emeritus. As the 2009 WSBA licensing period approaches, you may be thinking of changing your membership status to accommodate your current career or lifestyle. If you no longer need your active WSBA license, here’s why you should consider emeritus status. APR 8(e) creates a limited license status of emeritus for attorneys otherwise retired from the practice of law, to practice pro bono legal services through a qualified legal services provider. A qualified legal services provider is a “not-for-profit legal services organization whose primary purpose is to provide legal services to low-income clients.” There are no MCLE requirements (although you may attend optional CLE seminars at no cost so that you are aware of changes in the law). The 2009 license fee for emeritus is $120. This is a significant savings in time and money if you are paying for an active license that you no longer need. Under most circumstances, emeritus attorneys can remain in emeritus status indefinitely without having to re-take the bar exam if/when returning to active status. Most qualified legal services providers provide malpractice insurance for emeritus volunteers. There is no age requirement for emeritus attorneys. Volunteering for a “qualified legal services organization” allows you to control your own schedule. Most importantly, the emeritus program provides an opportunity for attorneys to give something back to their communities by helping those who are less fortunate. One or more qualified legal service organizations are present in most Washington state counties. They include Columbia Legal Services, a statewide legal services program; Northwest Justice Project, a central statewide point of access for clients; specialized legal services programs (such as Northwest Women’s Law Center, Unemployment Law Project, and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project); and county volunteer attorney programs. These organizations offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities such as direct representation, mentoring, advice clinics, self-help clinics, board membership, telephone advice, and document preparation. Emeritus also allows for pro bono services for criminal cases through some public defender agencies. Many of these organizations offer training for their volunteers. We will do our best to find a niche to fit your legal expertise, interests, and schedule. An emeritus training and orientation session is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2009, at the WSBA office in Seattle. This training is a requirement for changing to emeritus status and will provide an opportunity for you to meet representatives from qualified legal services providers. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. For more information about the emeritus program, registration for the training session, and the logistics of changing your WSBA status to emeritus, please contact Sharlene Steele, WSBA access to justice liaison, at 206-727-8262, 800-945-9722, ext. 8262, or sharlene@wsba.org. You can review APR 8(e) at www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/faq-rule8e.htm. WSBA-CLE Annual Onsite Bookstore runs December 15–31 No time to attend live seminars to get all of your required end-of-the-year CLE credits? Visit the WSBA-CLE Bookstore at the WSBA office, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, and purchase recorded seminars, good for A/V credits, to listen to at your convenience. The sale runs weekdays from December 15 through December 31 (excluding December 25 and 26, when the store will be closed). Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for December 24 and December 31, when hours will be 9:00 a.m. to noon. A limited supply of selected recorded seminars with coursebooks are for sale, approved for MCLE A/V credit. (You may claim up to 15 total A/V credits for the current reporting period. All six ethics credits can be acquired using approved A/V self-study.) Payment may be made by cash, check, MasterCard, or Visa, and there are no shipping and handling charges for members who take their purchases with them. For members outside the Seattle area, shop online at www.wsbacle.org and order in-stock recorded seminar products by December 8 to ensure delivery by December 31. (After December 8, contact us at orders@wsba.org for express delivery options.) Monthly Lawyer Discussion Roundtable Hosted by the WSBA Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP), this roundtable is useful for meeting other members and WSBA Lawyer Services Department staff who will answer questions on ethics, practice, and substantive law. We meet the second Tuesday of the month from noon to 1:30 p.m. December 9 is the next scheduled meeting date. Walk-ins are welcome! The roundtable is held at the WSBA office. Computer Clinic The WSBA offers a hands-on computer clinic for members. Learn what programs such as Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Adobe Acrobat can do for a lawyer. Are you a total beginner? No problem. The clinic teaches helpful tips you can use immediately. Computers are provided, and seating is limited to 15 members. There is no charge, and no CLE credits are offered. The December 8 clinic will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the WSBA office and will focus on using Outlook and practice-management software. The December 11 clinic will meet from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will focus on using Excel and Word. For more information or to RSVP, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org. LAP Solution of the Month: Financial Stress How fiscally sound is your law practice? Do you struggle with untimely billing or failure to collect your receivables? Financial distress can wreak havoc with a law practice. For help with getting your firm onto a stable financial footing, call the Law Office Management Assistance Program at 206-733-5914, or 800-945-9722, ext. 5914. Job Seekers Discussion Group Looking for a job or making a transition? Join us at the Job Seekers Discussion Group the second Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 p.m. The next meeting is December 10 at the WSBA office. The group discusses where to look for jobs, how to grow your network of contacts, strategies for résumés and cover letters, and how to keep yourself organized and motivated. Exchange information and ideas with other lawyers looking to make a change. Come as you are — no need to RSVP. Bring your business cards and practice networking skills. For more information, call 206-727-8269, 800-945-9722, ext. 8269, or e-mail rebeccan@wsba.org. Facing an Ethical Dilemma? The WSBA Ethics Line can help members analyze a situation involving their own prospective conduct, apply the proper rules, and reach an ethically sound decision. Calls made to the Ethics Line are confidential, and most calls are returned within one business day. Any advice given is intended for the education of the inquirer and does not represent an official position of the WSBA. Call the Ethics Line at 206-727-8284 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8284. Search WSBA Ethics Opinions Online Formal and informal WSBA ethics opinions are available online at http://pro/wsba.org/io/search.asp, or from a link on the WSBA homepage, www.wsba.org. You can search opinions by number, year issued, ethical rule, subject matter, or keyword. Ethics opinions are issued by the WSBA to assist members in interpreting their ethical obligations in specific circumstances. The opinions are the result of study and analysis in response to requests from WSBA members. For assistance, call the Ethics Line at 206-727-8284 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8284. Learn More About Case-Management Software The WSBA Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP) maintains a computer for members to review software tools designed to maximize office efficiency. The LOMAP staff is available to provide materials, answer questions, and make recommendations. To make an appointment, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org. Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings January 22–23, 2009, Olympia • March 6–7, 2009, Seattle • April 24–25, 2009, Richland Usury Rate The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in November 2008 was 1.122 percent. Therefore, the maximum allowable usury rate for December is 12 percent. Information from January 1987 to date is on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/usury.htm.
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