January 2006

The WSBA Leadership Institute Experience

by Tracy S. Flood

The WSBA Leadership Institute was created as a tool to recruit, train, and retain young lawyers from traditionally underrepresented groups for leadership positions. The WSBA Leadership Institute is organized over eight months and is composed of one- and two-day sessions. The classroom time emphasizes subjects relevant to enhancing our skills as new leaders.

As a fellow in the inaugural class of the WSBA Leadership Institute, my experience has been immeasurable. Twelve of the most talented new lawyers in Washington shared eight months of classroom time on subjects that benefit all attorneys, from the private practitioner to the government lawyer. Thanks to WSBA 2003-04 President David Savage, 2004-05 President Ron Ward, WSBA Leadership Advisory Board Chair James Williams, WSBA Diversity Advocate Joslyn Donlin, and all of the Advisory Board members for rising to the challenge of bringing a program to the WSBA that acknowledges the need for diversity in the Bar and developing quality leaders throughout the state.

Each session started with what became known to the fellows as “check-in.” During check-in, the fellows, advisors, and speakers would take the time to introduce themselves and share the events that transpired in their lives since the last session. Our first session was filled with faculty that included Judge Ricardo Martinez of the U.S. District Court Western District, Justice Mary Fairhurst of the Washington State Supreme Court, and Jeffery Robinson of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender. WYLD members J.D. Smith of Gordon Thomas Honeywell, Malanca, Peterson & Daheim, LLP; Gabriel Galanda of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs, PLLC; and Roxanne Rarangol of Grant & Associates spoke at the second session about ways for the fellows to become involved in Bar committees and organizations.

Sessions for the WSBA Leadership Institute were organized to include different locations throughout the state. The “Meet the Bench” session was held at the U.S. District Courthouse, and the “Legislative Process” session was held in Olympia at the Temple of Justice. These sessions included topics that were appropriate for the locations and appropriate for developing leaders. The “Meet the Bench” session included faculty from municipal courts and tribal courts. In Olympia, we were hosted by Justice Owens, and we were given a tour that included an up-close and personal view. The session on “Executive Action” was held in Spokane.

In addition to classroom training, one of the ways the fellows developed leadership skills was the Community-Service Project. For the inaugural class, our project was the creation of “Profiles of Diversity and Leadership,” located on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/diversityprofiles.htm. This site includes inspirational profiles of diverse Washington attorneys and judges, a roadmap for law school students, and resources for attorneys in Washington state. As a continuance of the development of leadership skills after completion of the program, each fellow will become involved in service in the WSBA for one year.

As a graduate of the WSBA Leadership Institute, I am proud to say that I was in the inaugural class. There is no other setting where a group of new lawyers are exposed to legal-profession leaders from the judiciary, government agencies, and law firms in this fashion.

The second class of the WSBA Leadership Institute will begin on January 20.

Tracy S. Flood is a 2005 graduate of the WSBA Leadership Institute and a member of the Kitsap County Young Lawyers. She can be reached at 360-895-2400 or fltracylaw@aol.com.