January 2008

FYI

Washington State Bar Foundation Board of Trustees — Nonlawyer Position

Deadline: February 15, 2008

The Washington State Bar Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose focus is to improve the delivery of legal services to all segments of the public; foster improvement of relations among the Bar, the judiciary, and the public; advance programs related to new lawyer development; support diversity efforts; and promote the administration of justice. Foundation trustees serve three-year terms. The bylaws provide for trustees to be selected as follows: three persons from the WSBA Board of Governors, one past president of the WSBA, four WSBA members, and one nonlawyer. The nonlawyer position is currently available.

WSBA members are encouraged to inform nonlawyers of this opportunity for service. Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and résumé to WSBA Bar Leaders Division, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org.

Call for Applications for One of Two WSBA Board of Governors At-Large Seats

Deadline: March 3, 2008

To increase member representation on the Board of Governors, the WSBA Bylaws provide for two at-large seats. The full text of the Bylaws can be reviewed at www.wsba.org/bylaws. One of these seats is up for election to a three-year term commencing at the close of the annual meeting in September 2008.

Persons interested in filling an at-large position should submit a letter of application and current résumé. The Board of Governors will elect the at-large governor at their meeting on June 6, 2008. The application should include a statement addressing how the applicant believes he or she meets the intent specified in Article III, Section N. There is no intent that these seats are dedicated or rotationally filled by any one element of diversity or group of members.

(Excerpt from the WSBA Amended Bylaws, Article III, Section N)
N. ELECTION OF AT-LARGE GOVERNORS. Any active member of the Bar, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may apply for the office of At-Large Governor. Filing of applications shall be in accordance with Section C of this Article.

At the regularly scheduled June meeting of the Board of Governors following the regular election of Governors from Congressional Districts, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, the Board of Governors shall elect additional Governors from the active membership at-large. Election may be by a secret written ballot. There shall be two at-large Governor positions to be filled with persons who, in the Board's sole discretion, have the experience and knowledge of the needs of those lawyers whose membership is or may be historically under-represented in governance, or who represent some of the diverse elements of the public of the State of Washington, to the end that the Board of Governors will be a more diverse and representative body than the results of the election of Governors based solely on Congressional districts may allow. Under-representation and diversity may be based upon the discretionary determination of the Board of Governors at the time of the election of any at-large Governor to include, but not be limited to, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, geography, areas and types of practice, and years of membership, provided that no single factor shall be determinative.

Members interested in the at-large position on the Board of Governors should submit a letter of application and résumé to the WSBA Office of the Executive Director, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101; call 206-727-8244 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8244, for more information.

2008 Notice of WSBA Board of Governors Election

Four positions on the WSBA Board of Governors will be up for election this year. These are the governors representing the 3rd, 6th, 7th-East,* and 8th Congressional Districts. These positions are currently held by Kristal K. Wiitala (3rd District), Salvador A. Mungia (6th District), Liza E. Burke (7th-East District), and Douglas C. Lawrence (8th District).

The WSBA Bylaws provide that any member in good standing, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may be nominated for the office of governor from the congressional district (or geographical region within the 7th District*) in which such member is entitled to vote. Nominations are made by filing a statement of interest and a biographical statement of 100 words or less.

Generally, members are entitled to vote in the congressional district in which the member resides. All out-of-state active WSBA members are eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 5(e), or, if specifically designated to the executive director, within the district of their primary Washington practice. However, the member must reside in the congressional district to be eligible for election.

Nomination forms are available from the WSBA Office of the Executive Director, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539; 206-727-8244 and on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/info/bog/default.htm. The WSBA executive director must receive nomination forms by 5:00 p.m. on March 3, 2008. The Board of Governors determines the official dates of the election. Ballots are mailed on or about April 15 and must be returned by May 15.

Note: The biographical statements of nominated candidates will be published in the May issue of Bar News.

*The 7th Congressional District is divided into three sub-districts, East, Central, and West. These sub-districts are distinguished by zip codes, and each has one elected governor. For the coming year, the east sub-district (zip codes are 98105, 98115, 98118, 98122, 98125, 98144, 98155, 98178, and 98185) will elect a new governor.
Northwest Justice Project Notice of Public Meetings
Year 2008 quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors of the Northwest Justice Project, a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization which provides civil legal services to eligible low-income clients, will be held on the following dates: January 12, April 12, July 19, and October 18. The Northwest Justice Project receives primary funding from the state and through the federal Legal Services Corporation and maintains more than 13 offices throughout Washington state.

These public meetings generally commence at 9:30 a.m. While they are usually held in Seattle for cost economy reasons, and to accommodate board member travel, specific meeting sites may vary from meeting to meeting based on space availability or other program purposes. All meetings are open, except that limited portions may be closed, pursuant to a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, to hold an executive session. In such sessions, the Board reviews, considers, and, in some cases, votes upon matters related to: (1) litigation to which the program is or may become a party; or (2) internal personnel, operational, investigative, and sensitive labor regulations matters. Any such closed sessions will be as authorized by pertinent laws and regulations and will be duly noted, in summary form, in open session and corresponding minutes. Closed sessions will also be formally certified by the program's executive director or general counsel as authorized. A copy of the certification will be maintained for public inspection at the program's main office located at 401 Second Ave. S., Ste. 407, Seattle, WA 98104, and will be otherwise available upon request. For specific meeting site information, please call Lisa Giuffré, 206-464-1519 or toll-free at 1-888-201-1012.

Washington State Access to Justice Board

Application deadline: extended to January 31, 2008

The Washington State Access to Justice Board (ATJ Board) announces one vacancy, effective May 2008, for a judge or attorney.

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." The ATJ Board strives to have a membership that reflects inclusion, diversity (including geographic diversity), and cross-cultural competence. For more information about the ATJ Board, please contact WSBA Justice Programs Manager Joan Fairbanks at 206-727-8282, 800-945-9722, ext. 8282, or joanf@wsba.org, or visit www.wsba.org/atj.

Please submit a résumé and letter of interest, including a summary of qualifications, to: WSBA Bar Leaders Division, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539, or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org.


Seeking Questionnaires from Candidates for Judicial Appointments

Deadlines: January 31 for March 13 interview; May 1 for June 12 interview

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 Governor Gregoire 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
recommendation or contact the WSBA at 206-727-8212 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8212, or barleaders@wsba.org.

2008 License Fee, Late Fees, and Suspension Information

2008 License Fee Packets. License packets were mailed in early December. This year's packet has been condensed. The packet includes your license fee invoice with status change request to inactive or for resignation, as well as contact information changes and contact restriction requests. Active members receive a mandatory trust account declaration form, backed by a mandatory professional liability insurance disclosure form and, as applicable, separate MCLE information or certification forms. All members receive the voluntary pro bono and demographic information form. If you have not received your license packet by mid-January, please call the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA (9722) or 206-443-WSBA (9722), or e-mail questions@wsba.org to request a duplicate. Please note that it is your responsibility to pay your annual license fee, regardless of whether you receive the license packet.

Fees. We encourage you to pay your mandatory fees promptly to avoid penalties. Payments must be postmarked or delivered to the WSBA office by February 1, 2008. WSBA Bylaws require a 20 percent late-payment penalty if the annual license fee remains unpaid after March 3, 2008. After April 1, 2008, a 50 percent late-payment penalty is imposed. If your license fee, penalty assessment, or LFCP assessment remain unpaid after May 2008, the delinquency will be certified to the Supreme Court, which will enter an order of suspension from the practice of law. In order to be reinstated to your former status after suspension for nonpayment, you must pay double the amount of the combined fee and penalty (triple the original fee). For active members, nonpayment of the $15 Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (LFCP) assessment (required by APR 15) is also cause for suspension.

You may also pay online. To pay online, go to www.wsba.org, select the "For Lawyers" tab, and see "Pay License Fee Online."

New Fee to Change Status to Active. Beginning January 1, 2008, all members on inactive, judicial, or emeritus status who apply for a change to active status will be required to pay a $100 investigation fee at the time of filing an application for a change of membership status to active. The Board of Governors approved the fee to help defray the costs associated with researching a member's background and membership history.

WSBA Members on Active Military Duty. WSBA Bylaw II.E.1.b., providing for a fee exemption for eligible members of the Armed Forces, was amended in March 2006. Please contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA (9722) or 206-443-WSBA (9722), or questions@wsba.org, or contact Kevin McKee at kevinm@wsba.org or 206-727-8243 for application information. All requests for exemption must be postmarked or delivered to the WSBA office on or before March 1.

Resources. Now is the ideal time to check that the WSBA has your correct contact information in its database. You can check by going to the online lawyer directory on the WSBA website at http://pro.wsba.org.
If your contact information has changed, please complete and return the Contact Information Change form included in the license packet to the address shown on the form or by fax to 206-727-8319, or e-mail the changes to questions@wsba.org. Please update your information as soon as possible, but no later than January 31 for inclusion in Resources.

More Information. Full explanations of license fees, forms, policies, and deadlines are on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/annuallicensing.htm. The WSBA Service Center is available to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 800-945-WSBA (9722), 206-443-WSBA (9722), or by e-mail at questions@wsba.org.

MCLE Certification for Group 1 (2005-2007)

If you are an active WSBA member in MCLE Reporting Group 1 (2005-2007), you should have received your Continuing Legal Education Certification (C2/C3) forms in the license packet that was mailed in early December. The deadline for returning the C2/C3 form to the WSBA is February 1, 2008. Any C2/C3 forms delivered to the WSBA or postmarked after March 3, 2008, will be assessed a late fee.

Members in Group 1 include active members who were admitted to the WSBA through 1975 or in 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, or 2003. Members admitted in 2006 are also in Group 1 but are not due to report until the end of 2010. Their first reporting period will be 2008-2010; however, any credits earned on or after the day of admittance to the WSBA may be counted for compliance.

The Continuing Legal Education Certification (C2/C3) form that you received in your license packet is a declaration that lists all the MCLE Board-approved courses that were in your MCLE online profile for the 2005-2007 reporting period as of mid-October 2007. If you took other courses after mid-October, you can add these to the back of the C2/C3 form when you receive it. The C2/C3 form, not your online profile, is the official record of MCLE compliance. The original copy of the C2/C3 form must be returned to the WSBA to meet compliance requirements.

All MCLE Board-approved courses that you list on your C2/C3 form must have an Activity ID number. This number is listed in your online MCLE profile and is assigned at the time that the Form 1 for each course is input to the MCLE system. If you have taken courses that have not yet been approved by the MCLE Board, please submit Form 1s for these courses immediately to ensure that they are approved before your C2/C3 is due. A "Certificate of Attendance" or other sponsor-provided certification is not sufficient to receive course credit. If the sponsor has not received course accreditation from the Washington MCLE Board, you must submit a Form 1 application and full agenda for the course in order to receive credit. Because of high volumes from October through February, Form 1s submitted electronically (at http://pro.wsba.org) could take up to four weeks or more to process. Paper Form 1s may take up to six weeks or more to process. If you submit a paper Form 1, you will be notified by mail of its Activity ID number.

If you were not able to meet the credit requirement by December 31, 2007, and need more time to complete your credits, an automatic extension will be granted until May 1, 2008. There is no need to apply for it. However, a late fee will be assessed if you took any courses after December 31 that are needed for compliance or if your C2/C3 form is submitted late. If this is the first reporting period in which you will not meet MCLE compliance requirements, the late fee will be $150. The late fee increases by $300 for each consecutive reporting period you are late in meeting MCLE requirements.

If you have questions about the Form 1 process or MCLE compliance, please contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA (9722) or 206-443-WSBA (9722), or e-mail questions@wsba.org.

MCLE Certification for Active Members

Due Date for MCLE Reporting. WSBA members are divided into three MCLE reporting groups based on year of admission. (Newly admitted members are exempt. See "Newly Admitted Members" below.)

Group 1: Admitted through 1975, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, or 2006
Group 2: Admitted in 1976 through 1983, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, or 2007
Group 3: Admitted in 1984 through 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, or 2005


Reporting Group Next Reporting Period Complete Credits by File C2/C3 Form by
Group 1 2005–2007  December 31, 2007 February 1, 2008
Group 2 2006–2008 December 31, 2008 February 1, 2009
Group 3 2007–2009 December 31, 2009 February 1, 2010

 

 

 


Credit Requirements. The following credit requirements must be met by December 31 of the last year of an active member's reporting period:

• At least 45 total credits of MCLE Board-approved CLE activities must be taken, which need to include a minimum of 30 live credits and six ethics credits. The courses must meet the requirements of APR 11, but they do not need to be taken in Washington state. Many courses are offered around the world which meet the requirements of APR 11. "Live" courses include classroom instruction, live webcasts (not pre-recorded webcasts), and teleconferences.

"Ethics" courses, and segments of larger courses, must meet the requirements of APR 11 Regulation 101(n) or (o) to be considered for ethics credit.

• Pre-recorded self-study (A/V) courses cannot be more than five years old, except MCLE Board-approved "skills-based" courses. Pre-recorded self-study courses include the traditional audio-visual (A/V) media of video tapes and cassette tapes. They also include archived webcasts, DVDs, compact disks, and other media with a sound track of the MCLE Board-approved course presentation. Written materials should be included with these courses and reviewed prior to claiming credit. In addition, written materials must be purchased by each member, where required by the sponsor, prior to claiming credit.

• Six pro bono credits can be earned per year. Two of these credits are for approved annual training, which must be taken prior to being able to earn credit for the pro bono work. Four pro bono credits may be earned each year if at least four hours of pro bono work was provided through a qualified legal services provider.

Carry-over CLE Credits. Carry-over credits from the previous reporting period may be used to meet the requirements of the current reporting period. If your current reporting period credits total exceeds 45, you may carry over a maximum combined total of 15 credits to your next reporting period. Only two ethics credits and five A/V credits may be carried over.

C2/C3 Reporting Requirement. All active members due to report are required to file a Continuing Legal Education Certification (C2/C3) form listing all CLE courses taken for credit compliance. The deadline for filing your C2/C3 form is February 1 of the year following the end of your reporting period. Note:

• Your online roster is not a substitute for filing the C2/C3 form.

• The C2/C3 form is a declaration and must be signed and dated, and the city and state where signed must be identified.

• C2/C3 forms are included in the license packets sent in early December to all members due to report (Group 1 members this year).

• All CLE courses listed on member rosters as of October 2007 will be printed on the back of the C2 form. If you took more CLE courses after October 1, and if they appear on your online roster and you do not want to hand-write them on the back of the C2 form, you may print a copy of your roster and attach it to your C2/C3 form. State on your C2/C3 form that the attached online roster printout is a true and correct statement of the CLE courses taken for credit compliance.

• You must verify that the credit hours listed on the C2/C3 and on your online profile correctly reflect the hours actually attended for each CLE. Online credits may be edited by clicking on the "edit" link next to each course. Credits on the C2/C3 may be corrected manually.

• The C2/C3 form should be filed by February 1 even if all the credits needed for compliance have not been completed.

MCLE Late Fees. All active members who have not completed their credits by December 31 of the last year of their reporting period, or who submit their C2/C3 reporting forms after March 1 of the following year (the end of the grace period after the February 1 deadline), must pay a late fee. The late fee for the first reporting period of noncompliance is $150 and increases by $300 for each consecutive three-year reporting period of noncompliance.

Newly Admitted Members. If you are a newly admitted member, you are exempt from reporting CLE credits for the year of your admission and the following calendar year. If you were admitted in 2006, you will not report for this reporting period (2005-2007) even though you are in Group 1. You will first report at the end of the 2008-2010 reporting period. Members admitted in 2007 will not report until the end of the 2009-2011 reporting period. When you report at the end of your first reporting period, you may claim all CLE credits earned on or after your date of admission to the WSBA.

MCLE Comity. If you are an active member of the WSBA and your primary office for the practice of law is outside of Washington and if you are a member of the Oregon, Idaho, or Utah state bars (comity states), you may meet your Washington mandatory CLE requirements by providing proof of current MCLE compliance from your comity state bar. Only a Certificate of MCLE Compliance from your comity state bar (not a "Certificate of Good Standing"), sent with your WSBA C2/C3 form, will satisfy your MCLE requirements in Washington.

MCLE System — Course Listing and Member Profiles. You can use the online MCLE system to: review courses taken and credits earned; apply for course approval; apply for writing credit, pro bono credit, or prep-time credit; and search for approved courses being offered.

To use the MCLE system, go to the WSBA website at www.wsba.org and click on "MCLE Web Site" in the upper left corner. On the next screen, click on the "Member" tab, then select "Member Login." The online instructions lead you through the process of creating a confidential password and using the system. Online help is available. If you have questions about using the MCLE system or about the MCLE compliance requirements, see the online FAQs at www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/faq-mcle.htm, call the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA (9722) or 206-443-WSBA (9722), or e-mail questions@wsba.org.

New APR 11 Regulation 104(e) Requirements for In-House CLEs. Starting with the 2005-2007 reporting period, members are limited to a total of 15 credits of private-law-firm CLEs and 15 credits of corporate-legal-department CLEs in each reporting period, regardless of who the private legal sponsor was and regardless of whether the course was open or closed. There are no limits on the number of credits you may earn at CLEs sponsored by government agencies. These limitations are the result of amendments to APR 11 Regulation 104(e) adopted by the Supreme Court that went into effect on November 8, 2005.

MCLE Compliance Report (C4/C5) in 2008 License Packets

All active members who are not due to report MCLE compliance at the end of this year, including new admittees, should have received the C4/C5 form in their 2008 licensing packets. The report on the C4/C5 form lists all credits reported to the WSBA for the member's current reporting period as of mid-October 2007. APR 11.6(a)(3) requires that the WSBA provide an annual report to each active member regarding the credits and courses posted to their MCLE online rosters. This report helps non-reporting active members to better track their credits, as well as ensure correct reporting and compliance at the end of their reporting period.

If you received the C4/C5 form in your 2008 license packet, it is for your information only. No action needs to be taken unless you want corrections to be made. If you want to make corrections to your WSBA MCLE roster, go to http://pro.wsba.org. Click on the "Member" tab, and then on "Member Login." The online instructions lead you through the process of creating a confidential password and beginning to use the system. Online help is available. You may also contact the WSBA Service Center to have corrections made and/or to request an MCLE system instruction booklet at 800-945-WSBA (9722), 206-443-WSBA (9722), or questions@wsba.org.

Lawyer Services Department Sponsors Law Office Management Workshops

The Success Strategies "hands-on/how-to" workshops teach new-to-practice attorneys or more experienced attorneys the skills and processes to better manage their law practices in an ethical, effective, efficient, and profitable manner. Through a combination of teaching methods and experiences in a confidential workshop setting held at the WSBA office, law office management consultant Ann Guinn will assist attorneys in solo or small firms to develop and reach their career goals. Workshops will be held the first Wednesday of each month, beginning January 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There are three MCLE-approved CLE credits per workshop. For information or to pre-register, contact Ann Guinn at 253-946-1896, 800-945-9722, ext. 1896, or anngp15@aol.com, or Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at 206-727-8267, 800-945-9722, ext. 8267, or jenniferf@wsba.org.

Contract Lawyer Meeting

Discuss the issues with other contract lawyers on January 15 from noon to 1:30 at the WSBA office. Bring your lunch — coffee is provided — and network with other contract lawyers. For more information, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org.

LAP Solution of the Month: The "Blues" or Depression?

Many lawyers are depressed but don't realize it. Symptoms include sad mood, loss of pleasure or interest in activities, weight gain or loss, sleep problems, feeling restless or slowed-down, fatigue, trouble thinking or concentrating, and thoughts of death. Untreated, it can cause serious work dysfunction and more. Talk to your doctor, or call the Lawyers Assistance Program at 206-727-8268 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8268.

Computer Clinic

The WSBA offers a hands-on computer clinic for members wanting to learn more about what Microsoft Office programs — Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word, as well as 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 January 14 clinic will focus on getting started, navigating Windows, computer features, security, and maintenance. Sessions are held from 10 a.m. to noon at the WSBA office. For more information or to RSVP, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org.

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 January 9 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 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8269, or e-mail rebeccan@wsba.org.

Problem Getting a Client to Pay?

The WSBA offers two programs to aid in the resolution of disputes involving lawyers. These programs serve both members and the public. The Fee Arbitration Program focuses on fee disputes between a lawyer and his or her client. To participate, both parties must agree to be bound by the arbitrator's decision. The Mediation Program provides a venue for parties to work together to resolve any dispute involving a lawyer, including those between a lawyer and a client, a lawyer and another lawyer, and a lawyer and another professional. Either party to a dispute may initiate fee arbitration or mediation. Both programs are non-disciplinary, voluntary, and confidential. For more information, visit the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/lawyers/services/adr.htm or call the ADR coordinator at 206-733-5923 or 800-945-9722, ext. 5923.

WSBA Ethics Line

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.

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.

Speakers Available

The WSBA Lawyers Assistance Program offers speakers for engagements at county, minority, or specialty bar associations, or other law-related organizations. Topics include stress management, life/work balance, and recognizing and handling problem-personality clients. Contact Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at 206-727-8267 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8267.

Assistance for Law Students

The Lawyers Assistance Program offers counseling to third-year law students attending Washington schools. Sessions are held in person or by phone. Treatment is confidential and available for depression, addiction, family and relationship issues, health problems, and emotional distress. A sliding-fee scale is offered ranging from $0-30, depending on ability to pay. Call 206-727-8268, or 800-945-9722, ext. 8268, or visit www.wsba.org/-lawyers/services/lap.htm.

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, or 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org.

Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings

January 17, Olympia • March 7-8,Tacoma • April 25-26, Spokane

With the exception of the executive session, Board of Governors meetings are open, and all WSBA members are welcome to attend. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. Contact Donna Sato at 206-727-8244, 800-945-9722, ext. 8244, or donnas@wsba.org. The complete Board of Governors meeting schedule is available on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/info/bog/schedule.htm.

Usury Rate

The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in December 2007 was 3.296 percent. Therefore, the maximum allowable usury rate for January is 12 percent. Information from January 1987 to date is on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/media/-publications/barnews/usury.htm.

 

 


 





Last Modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

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