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November 2007WSBA ABA House of Delegates Alternate The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting letters of interest and résumés from members interested in serving as an alternate for the ABA House of Delegates. The alternate would participate in the ABA House of Delegates if one of the WSBA delegates were unable to attend a meeting, so full voting capacity can exist at all times. Preferably, the alternate should be someone who usually attends the ABA Midyear and Annual Meetings, since the substitution may need to be made on fairly short notice. The term of service is two years, and the alternate may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms. The ABA House of Delegates alternate must be an ABA member in good standing throughout his/her term. 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. Northwest Justice Project Board of Directors The Northwest Justice Project seeks two members to serve three-year terms on its Board of Directors. The terms will commence on January 1, 2008. Incumbents are eligible for reappointment. The Northwest Justice Project is a not-for-profit organization funded by the state of Washington and the federal Legal Services Corporation to provide free civil legal services to low-income people throughout Washington. Board members, who play an active role in setting program policy and assuring adequate oversight of program operations, must have a demonstrated interest in, and knowledge of, the delivery of high-quality civil legal services to the poor. For more information, e-mail cesar@nwjustice.org or lisag@nwjustice.org. Please 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. Limited Practice Board The WSBA Board of Governors seeks four candidates for appointment to the Limited Practice Board, which oversees administration of, and compliance with APR 12 authorizing certain lay persons to select, prepare, and complete legal documents pertaining to the closing of real estate and personal-property transactions. The candidates' names will be submitted to the Washington State Supreme Court for appointment and will serve four-year terms commencing January 1, 2008. In keeping with the member requirements of APR 12, one position must be filled by a representative from the lending industry, one by a representative of the escrow industry, one by a representative of the real estate industry, and the other position must be filled by an attorney member of the WSBA. LPOs in the lending and escrow industry are encouraged to apply. The board generally meets every other month. Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to: WSBA Bar Leaders Division, 1325 4th 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 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 2008 License Fee, Late Fees, and Suspension Information 2008 License Fee Packet. License packets will be 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 will have 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 will receive the voluntary pro bono and demographic information form. If you have not received your licensing packet by mid-January 2008, 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 licensing packet. 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. New Mandatory Disclosure Regarding Professional Liability Insurance. Pursuant to Rule 26 of the Admission to Practice Rules (APR), this licensing season all active members of the Washington State Bar Association will be required for the first time to disclose on the annual licensing form whether they maintain professional liability insurance. Effective July 1, 2007, new admittees and members returning to active status are required to report this information at the time of admission on forms provided to them with their admission or status change documents. Note: Washington lawyers are not required to have professional liability insurance coverage; APR 26 requires only that active Washington lawyers report to the WSBA whether they have such coverage. Because this is a new requirement and the information will be collected during the upcoming licensing season, the Lawyer Directory information for most lawyers will not reflect whether there is professional liability coverage until at least the end of March 2008. As stated above, an exception will be lawyers newly admitted or recently returned to active status, who are required to report in connection with becoming active. For more information on this rule, see http://pro.wsba.org/insurancedisclosureinfo.asp. WSBA Bylaw on Armed Forces Fee Exemption. The WSBA will begin processing Armed Forces Exemption requests in December for the 2008 licensing year. WSBA Bylaw Section II.E.1.b. provides for a fee exemption for eligible members of the Armed Forces. This section of the WSBA Bylaws provides: "An active member of the Association who is activated from reserve duty status to full-time active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States for more than sixty days in any calendar year, or who is deployed or stationed outside the United States for any period of time for full-time active military duty in the Armed Forces of the United States shall be exempt from the payment of membership fees and assessments for the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection upon submitting to the Executive Director satisfactory proof that he or she is so activated, deployed or stationed. All requests for exemption must be postmarked or delivered to the Association offices on or before March 1 of the year for which the exemption is requested. Eligible members must apply every year they wish to claim the exemption. Each exemption applies for only the calendar year in which it is granted, and exemptions may be granted for a maximum total of five years for any member." WSBA members whose membership status is active and who are otherwise eligible for the Armed Forces exemption as described above can apply for a waiver of WSBA license fees beginning in December. (WSBA members whose WSBA membership status is inactive or emeritus must still pay the annual WSBA license fees for that status.) If you are an active member and you believe you are eligible for the fee exemption, 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 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8243 for application information, beginning in December. MCLE Certification for Group 1 (2005-2007) If you are an active WSBA member in MCLE Reporting Group 1 (2005-2007), you will receive your Continuing Legal Education Certification (C2/C3) forms in the license packet that will be mailed in early December. The deadline for returning the C2/C3 form to the WSBA is February 1. Any C2/C3 forms delivered to the WSBA or postmarked after March 3 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 are 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.) Reporting Group Next Reporting Period Complete Credits by File C2/C3 Form by
• 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. The Supreme Court will not be changing this requirement in 2007. 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, will receive a report (the C4/C5 form) in their 2008 licensing packets. Each member's report lists all credits reported to the WSBA for the member's current reporting period as of mid-October. 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 receive 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. CLE Bookstore Open at the WSBA Office in December For Group 1 members who must complete their MCLE credits before December 31, 2007, the WSBA-CLE Bookstore will be open at the WSBA office, 1325 Fourth Ave., sixth floor, from December 17 through December 31 (excluding December 24 and 25). Hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for December 31, when the hours will be 9:00 a.m. to noon. For sale at the bookstore will be a limited supply of selected recorded seminars with coursebooks, 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 recorded seminar products by December 10 to ensure delivery by December 31. Live Preadmission Education Courses Offered This Fall by Local Bar Associations The Preadmission Education course, mandatory for all Bar applicants pursuant to Admission to Practice Rules 5 and 18, has entered its second year of implementation. Since its inception on June 1, 2006, more than 1,700 Bar applicants have completed the course by attending live seminars presented by local bar associations or watching the online video. Local bar associations will again offer live Preadmission Education seminars this fall in conjunction with local swearing-in ceremonies. By attending a live Preadmission Education seminar, Bar applicants are able to meet members of the local bar association, learn about local bar activities, and gain the perspective of experienced attorneys and judges about practicing law in Washington. Attendees receive a coursebook with information about each topic, plus tips, articles, resources, and local materials selected by the local bar for each seminar location. Topics covered in the course include managing your legal career, resources for practice management, building client relationships, avoiding conflicts of interest, successful communication strategies, and getting to know your legal community. Local bar associations offering these programs, including dates and cities, are: October 30 November 1 November 7 November 8 November 15 Bar applicants who wish to attend a local course must register in advance. Further details regarding the courses and registration information are available at www.wsbacle.org/preadmission. For information about swearing-in ceremonies this fall, contact your local bar association. Bar applicants who are not able to attend a live Preadmission Education seminar may take the course online. The online video, as well as the coursebook, are available through the Preadmission website at www.wsbacle.org/preadmission. Direct questions regarding this program to Yvonne Chapman, WSBA-CLE orientation program developer, at yvonnec@wsba.org. Thinking of Changing Your WSBA Membership Status? Consider Emeritus As the 2008 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. An Emeritus training session has been scheduled for Monday, January 21, 2008, at the WSBA office. This training is a requirement for changing to Emeritus status and provides 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 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8262 or sharlene@wsba.org. Website Helps Public Learn About the Law Please spread the word about the WSBA's www.lawforwa.org website, which provides the public with easy access to information about the law, courts, and government. Its menu and search engine help users find a manageable number of legal resources on a wide variety of topics. Users can also directly access the state law and other resources through the site's "quick links." Lawforwa was created by the WSBA's Council on Public Legal Education, in partnership with the University of Washington, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Seattle University School of Law. "Foundations of Freedom" Civics Pamphlet Available The WSBA has created a consumer-information pamphlet called "Foundations of Freedom" that covers the basics of American government and democracy. The pamphlet describes the rule of law, the separation of powers, checks and balances, and judicial independence. 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, community organizations, and community centers. 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/public/consumer. Requests for copies should be directed to Pam Inglesby at pami@wsba.org. Casemaker Access Casemaker is a powerful online research library provided free to WSBA members. To access Casemaker, go to the WSBA website at www.wsba.org and click on the Casemaker logo on the right sidebar. Click on the Casemaker button to begin. For help using Casemaker, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org, or call the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA (9722) or 206-443-WSBA (9722). Contract Lawyer Meeting Discuss the issues with other contract lawyers on November 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. Please note the WSBA's new address: 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle. LAP Solution of the Month: Boundaries Do you have trouble saying no when you should? Are you struggling with cases your gut told you to avoid? If so, you may have trouble setting and maintaining good boundaries. Figure out what your limits are, then practice saying "no." If you'd like help, call the Lawyers Assistance Program at 206-727-8268 to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Enjoy feeling in control again. LOMAP and Ethics on the Road: The 2007 Traveling Seminars Plan to attend in Oak Harbor on December 4, Bellingham on December 5, or Marysville on December 6. Registration is $89. This seminar has been approved for four CLE ethics credits. For more information and a complete calendar of fall seminars, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, or 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org, or visit www.lomap.org. 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 November 12 clinic will focus on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat 8. 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 November 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. 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. Please note the WSBA's new address: 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle. Problem Getting a Client to Pay? Dispute with another lawyer or an expert witness? 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. 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. 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. Help for Judges The WSBA Judges Assistance Program provides confidential assistance to judges experiencing personal or professional difficulties. Telephone or in-person sessions are available on a sliding-scale basis. For more information, call the program coordinator at 206-727-8268 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8268. 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 December 7-8, Everett • January 17-18, 2008, Olympia • March 7-8, 2008, Tacoma 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 October 2007 was 4.151 percent. Therefore, the maximum allowable usury rate for November is 12 percent. Information from January 1987 to date is on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/media/-publications/barnews/usury.htm. |
