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May 2008WSBA Presidential Search The WSBA Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the position of WSBA president for 2009–2010. Pursuant to Article IV (A)(2) of the WSBA Bylaws, the primary place of business of candidates for president for 2009–2010 must be Western Washington (non-King County). The WSBA member selected to be president will have an opportunity to provide a significant contribution to the legal profession. Applications for 2009–2010 WSBA president will be accepted through May 15, 2008, and should be limited to a current résumé, a concise application letter stating interest and qualifications, and no less than five or more than 10 references. The Board of Governors will consider endorsement letters received by May 23, 2008. Applications and endorsement letters should be sent to the WSBA Executive Director, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101. Direct contact with the Board of Governors is encouraged. All candidates will have an interview with the full Board of Governors in open session at the June 6, 2008, Board of Governors meeting. Following the interviews, the Board will select the president. Although prior experience on the WSBA's Board of Governors may be helpful, there is no requirement that one must have been a member of the Board of Governors or had previous experience in Bar activities. The candidate must be willing to devote a substantial number of hours to WSBA affairs and be capable of being a positive representative for the legal profession. The position is unpaid. Some expenses, such as WSBA-related travel, are reimbursed. The commitment begins in June 2008 following selection. A one-year term as president-elect will begin at the Annual Business Meeting in September 2008. The president-elect is expected to attend the two-day board meetings held approximately every five to six weeks, as well as numerous subcommittee, section, regional, national, and local meetings. In September 2009, at the WSBA Annual Business Meeting, the president-elect will assume the position of president. During his or her service, the president-elect and president will also be required to meet with members of the Bar, the courts, the media, and public and legal interest groups, as well as be involved in the Bar's legislative activities. Appropriate time will need to be devoted to communication by letter, e-mail, and telephone in connection with these responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities of the president are set forth in the WSBA Bylaws. Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE Board) The WSBA Board of Governors is seeking applications from active WSBA members for appointment to the MCLE Board. One position is available, and members from any district may apply. This is a three-year term commencing October 1, 2008. The MCLE Board approves courses and educational programs that satisfy the educational requirements of the mandatory CLE rule and considers MCLE policy issues, as well as reporting and exception situations. 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. American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting letters of interest and résumés from members interested in serving on the ABA House of Delegates representing the WSBA. Four positions will be available in August 2008. A written expression of interest and résumé are required for any incumbents seeking reappointment. The control and administration of the ABA are vested in the House of Delegates, the policy-making body of the ABA. The House, composed of approximately 550 delegates, elects the ABA officers and board, and meets out of state twice a year. Delegate attendance is required. The WSBA's allowance is $800 per year per delegate. Terms are two years, and members may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms. Those serving on the ABA House of Delegates must be ABA members in good standing throughout their terms. 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. Commission on Judicial Conduct The WSBA Board of Governors is seeking applicants interested in serving on the Commission on Judicial Conduct. Two positions are available: one as a member and one as an alternate. The Commission reviews complaints of ethical misconduct and disability against judicial officers, discusses the progress of investigations, and takes action to resolve complaints. The goal of the Commission is to maintain confidence and integrity in the judicial system by seeking to preserve both judicial independence and public accountability. The public interest requires a fair and reasonable process to address judicial misconduct or disability, separate from the judicial appeals system that allows individual litigants to appeal legal errors. Further information about the Commission can be found at their website, www.cjc.state.wa.us, or by contacting them at 360-753-4585. Law Clerk Committee — Two Positions The Law Clerk Committee is a regulatory board composed of seven lawyers who are appointed for six-year terms: Two terms are ending on September 30, 2008. Members are appointed with consideration for the geographic distribution of the law clerks in the program. The positions starting October 1, 2008, serve primarily the South Sound/Southwestern Washington and Spokane/Eastern Washington regions. Preference will be given to applicants in these areas of the state. The Committee is composed of both law school graduates and those who completed the Law Clerk Program; a balance of experience is sought. Each Committee member acts as liaison for an average of six law clerks enrolled in the program. A liaison receives monthly exams and certificates to review and assess the law clerks' progress. The Law Clerk Committee meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November. At the quarterly meetings, the liaison makes recommendations to the Committee on petitions of enrolled law clerks and on the admission of new law clerks and tutors to the program, as well as other issues. Screened applicants to the program are required to meet in person with a liaison, so the liaison must be willing to host a meeting in his or her office or travel to the potential tutor's office. The time commitment is generally four to eight hours per month in addition to the quarterly six-hour meetings and possible special meetings and projects. Please review APR 6 and the Regulations for the Law Clerk Program at www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/apr6rulesandregulations.pdf. General information about the Law Clerk Program is available at www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/faq-rule6.htm. Members interested in participating on the Law Clerk Committee should submit a letter of application and résumé to: WSBA Regulatory Services, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539; 206-239-2112 or 800-945-9722, ext. 2112. Practice of Law Board — Three Positions Three positions on the Practice of Law (POL) Board are open effective October 2008. These appointments will be for a three-year term. All interested persons are encouraged to submit a résumé and letter of interest to the POL Board by June 1, 2008. The Board is established by General Rule 25. Nominations may be made by the WSBA Board of Governors and other people and organizations. GR 25 provides that the purpose of the Board is to promote expanded access to affordable and reliable legal and law-related services; expand public confidence in the administration of justice; make recommendations regarding the circumstances under which nonlawyers may be involved in the delivery of certain types of legal and law-related services; enforce rules prohibiting individuals and organizations from engaging in unauthorized legal and law-related services that pose a threat to the general public; and ensure that those engaged in the delivery of legal services in the state of Washington have the requisite skills and competencies necessary to serve the public. The Board is composed of 13 members, at least four of whom shall be nonlawyers. The Board should represent the public interest in the delivery of legal services, and it should reflect the broad range of diversity of individuals who are part of or who use the legal system. Persons interested in seeking nomination for appointment to the POL Board should submit letters describing their background and qualifications for Board membership to the address shown below. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to the Board's purposes as set out in GR 25. Members of the Board will not be compensated for their services, but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses consistent with the reimbursement policies of the WSBA. The Board sets its own meeting schedule, currently meeting the second Friday of each month. Please submit letters seeking nomination by the Board of Governors to the Practice of Law Board not later than June 1, 2008, to: Practice of Law Board, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539. If you have questions, contact POL Board Administrator Julie Shankland at julies@wsba.org, 206-727-8280 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8280. 2008 Board of Governors Elections Ballots have been mailed and will be counted on or about May 15. Following are statements received from candidates. Governor-elect Loren S. Etengoff — 3rd District – Unopposed Tracy S. Flood — 6th District Patrick A. Palace — 6th District Catherine Moore — 7th-East District Stephen A. Teller — 7th-East District Brian L. Comstock — 8th District Jeff Smyth — 8th District At-Large WSBA Board of Governors Elects Carla C. Lee At-Large Governor The WSBA is pleased to announce that the Board of Governors has elected Carla C. Lee as the new governor at large representing the Washington Young Lawyers Division. Ms. Lee will assume the seat in April, and her term will expire in September 2009. Ms. Lee will be the first African-American woman to serve on the Board of Governors. A Seattle native, Ms. Lee received undergraduate degrees in English and Philosophy from the University of Washington, and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. She is a solo practitioner practicing in Seattle. Notice of Intent to Form a WSBA Civil Rights Law Section Petitions are now being circulated to form a new WSBA Civil Rights Law Section pursuant to Article IX of the WSBA Bylaws. This area of law falls within the purposes of the WSBA as provided in General Rule (GR) 12. There currently is no other section or WSBA entity whose primary focus is on civil rights law, other than the Civil Rights Committee. Whether the Board of Governors determines to continue or discontinue the Committee, the Section, supported by Section member dues, would be in a stronger position to present CLE programs, publications, and work with other WSBA entities such as the Council on Public Legal Education, the Committee for Diversity, and others. A subcommittee of the WSBA Civil Rights Committee chaired by Patricia Paul, and including Tracy Flood, Molly Maloney, Sharon Payant, and Wilberforce Agyekum, will work on this during the required six-month waiting period. They intend to report to the Board of Governors with a recommendation not later than September 2008. For more information, please contact Ms. Paul at 360-230-2369, or e-mail patriciapauljd@msn.com. Intended jurisdiction: The Civil Rights Law Section would address concerns with all aspects of civil rights law in Washington within the parameters of GR 12. 2008 Licensing and Suspension Information Presuspension Notices Have Been Mailed. If you have not paid all of your license fees and late fees or if you are on Active status and have not paid your Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection assessment or filed your Mandatory Professional Liability Insurance Disclosure Form, a Presuspension Notice was mailed to your address on record on March 14, 2008. The Supreme Court will enter an order suspending you from the practice of law if such failure is not completely corrected within 60 days of the date of the Presuspension Notice. Payment and Confirmation Information. Pay online at http://pro.wsba.org using your MasterCard or Visa. The system allows payments only for the full amount billed, i.e., no Keller deductions or status changes. If you are mailing in payment and/or mandatory forms, send these items to the WSBA at 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539. License fee payments and receipt of forms can be confirmed online 10 days after mailing at http://pro.wsba.org by checking your online Lawyer Directory information and your Member information. Provide WSBA with Current Contact Information. You are required to keep your contact information current; see Admission to Practice Rule 13. If your contact information has changed, please complete and return the Contact Information Change Form available on the Annual Licensing webpage. Forms should be mailed to the WSBA, faxed to 206-727-8313, or e-mailed to questions@wsba.org. For More Information. Full explanations of license fees, forms, policies, and deadlines are on the WSBA website at: www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/annual ADR Training Announcement — 2008 Fee Dispute Mediation Training Seminar Members of the ADR Committee cordially invite you to attend the May 29, 2008, training seminar focusing on mediation. The training will be held at the WSBA office in Seattle, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. It is anticipated that participants will receive 2.75 CLE credits. Topics this year are geared toward providing training to lawyers and nonlawyer members of our Mediation Panel to help them perform their duties, as well as to provide mediation information and training for Bar members interested in mediation. With a practical emphasis, the topics will include the WSBA ADR Program, History, Objectives, and Procedures, with WSBA staffer Darlene Neumann; Ethics and Mediation, with Mediation Panel member David Lenci; The Mediation Process — A Perspective on the Benefits Generally, and on the WSBA Program, with Stephanie Bell from King County Dispute Resolution; and Mock Mediation Demonstrations, with ADR Committee members. Admission to this popular seminar is free, but has limited seating and fills up quickly. To register, or for additional information, please contact Darlene Neumann, ADR Program coordinator, at 206-733-5923, 800-945-9722, ext. 5923, or darlenen@wsba.org. Success Strategies Workshop The Success Strategies Workshops hands-on/how-to intensives will 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 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. You may join during any month. Three MCLE-approved CLE credits are available for each workshop. For information or to pre-register, contact Ann Guinn at 253-946-1896 or anngp15@aol.com, or Jennifer Favell, Ph.D., at jenniferf@wsba.org, 206-727-8267, or 800-945-9722, ext 8267. Third Annual Statewide Diversity Conference Washington's minority bar associations are pleased to announce the Third Annual Statewide Diversity Conference on Friday, May 30 at Seattle University, and the pre-conference reception at Perkins Coie on Thursday, May 29. The conference will feature a wide range of sessions on issues impacting diversity. The plenary session is entitled "Courtroom Bias: How Do Judges and Juries React to Diverse Counsel and Litigants?" and will address how issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation impact the litigation process (including voir dire and jury deliberations). In addition to the plenary, this year's conference includes a three-session track on "Considering a Judicial Career," and a variety of concurrent sessions on topics ranging from the financial aspects of law firm partnership to over-representation of minority communities in the juvenile justice system. Full conference details are available at www.wambac.org. For more information, contact conference co-chairs Michael Heath and Kim Tran at conference@wambac.org. The Lawyers Assistance Program is offering a new weekly group in Seattle for lawyers in their first three years of recovery from drug or alcohol dependency. The group meets on Tuesdays from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. Discussion topics include relapse prevention, improving relationships, work/life balance, and other themes chosen by the group. Coed. Sliding fee scale of $5–15 per session. Call Abby Smith, LAP addictions counselor, at 206-733-5988, or 800-945-9722, ext. 5988. Contract Lawyer Meeting Discuss the issues with other contract lawyers on May 13 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. 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 May 12 clinic will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon and will focus on using Excel and Word. The May 15 session will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will focus on PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat Version 8 for redaction and Bates numbering. Classes are held 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 the Job Seekers Discussion Group the second Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 p.m. The next meeting is May 14 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. 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. Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings June 6, Vancouver • July 25–26, Walla Walla • September 18–19, Seattle Usury Rate The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in April 2008 was 1.635 percent. Therefore, the maximum allowable usury rate for May 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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