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October 2008Northwest Justice Project Board of Directors The Northwest Justice Project is a statewide not-for-profit law firm funded by the State of Washington and the federal Legal Services Corporation to provide free civil legal services to low-income people throughout Washington. The Northwest Justice Project needs to fill at least two positions on its Board of Directors. Board terms commence on January 1, 2008, and are usually for three years, although one or more appointments may fill a Board position with less than a full term. Incumbents are eligible for reappointment. Board members play an active role in setting program policy and assuring adequate oversight of program operations and 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 cesart@nwjustice.org or lisag@nwjustice.org. Please submit letters of interest and résumés to Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org. Law Clerk Committee The Law Clerk Committee is a regulatory board composed of seven lawyers who are appointed for six-year terms. Members are appointed with consideration for the geographic distribution of the law clerks in the program. A member in the Seattle area is sought to serve the remainder of a six-year term on the Committee. The term will commence upon appointment and is effective through September 30, 2009. The appointed member may then reapply for a full six-year term which begins October 1, 2009. 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. Liaisons receive monthly exams and certificates to review and assess the law clerks' progress. At quarterly meetings, liaisons make 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 liaisons must be willing to host meetings in their offices or travel to the potential tutors' offices. 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. Interested members should 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 can be found at www.wsba.org/lawyers/licensing/faq-rule6.htm. To apply for appointment, submit a letter of application and résumé to: Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539. Washington State Access to Justice Board The Washington State Access to Justice Board (ATJ Board) announces one vacancy, for an existing term ending May 2010. The position may be filled by a lay person or an attorney. Details about the position 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 or joanf@wsba.org, or visit www.wsba.org/atj. Limited Practice Board The WSBA Board of Governors seeks two candidates for appointment to the Limited Practice Board, which oversees administration of, and compliance with, the Limited Practice Rule (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, 2009. In keeping with the member requirements of APR 12, both positions must be filled by attorney members of the WSBA. Lawyers in the lending, real estate, title, and escrow industry are encouraged to apply. The board generally meets every other month. Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to the Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 1325 4th Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539 or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org. Washington State Center for Court Research Advisory Board The WSBA Board of Governors will be nominating one member who is appointed by the Supreme Court to serve a three-year term on the Washington State Center for Court Research Advisory Board. The mission of the Center is to conduct objective research that informs judicial policy and strives to improve the functioning of the justice system. The Center's research is intended to address issues of importance to the Washington state courts, including influences from and upon the larger criminal justice system in which the courts operate. This Advisory Board position requires extensive knowledge of the courts and a desire to perform court research to provide analysis of court procedures and expenses. The incumbent is eligible to apply. Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to the Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101, or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org. University of Washington School of Law's Immigrant Families Advocacy Project The University of Washington School of Law's Immigrant Families Advocacy Project (IFAP) is searching for attorneys interested in collaborating with UW law students and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) to provide pro bono legal services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence. No prior experience with immigration law is necessary. To prepare volunteers, on October 10, IFAP will host a CLE on relevant immigration law, the unique ethical considerations a pro bono attorney may face during an IFAP case, and tips for working with students and IFAP clients. The CLE has been approved for 4.5 credits, including .75 ethics credits. It will be held at the Seattle Law Offices of Davis Wright Tremaine and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As a pro bono attorney with IFAP, you will either be assigned an I-360 self-petition for an abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident or a U-Visa for victims of domestic violence who report their abusers to law-enforcement authorities. You will be working with one to three law students who will have attended a series of trainings. The students will complete applications, draft declarations, and gather supporting documentation under your supervision. Though you will be the attorney of record on an IFAP case, you will receive support from your student team and guidance from the staff at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. If you would like to get involved, please contact Andrea Hastreiter at andreaha@u.washington.edu or Jordan Wasserman, pro bono coordinating attorney for NWIRP, at jordan@nwirp.org or 206-957-8632. 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 Nominations Sought for Public Education Award The Council on Public Legal Education (CPLE) is accepting nominations for its Flame of Democracy Award, given to an individual, organization, or program in Washington state that has made a significant contribution to increasing the public's understanding of law, the justice system, or government. The mission of the CPLE, a committee of the WSBA, is to promote public understanding of the law and civic rights and responsibilities. First presented in 2002 to the late journalist Richard Larsen, the award was established to highlight the important educational work being done by teachers, lawyers, judges, the media, and a variety of advocacy and community organizations and individuals. Other recipients have been the Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for its school outreach program; the Northwest Justice Project for its self-help website; and the League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund, for its numerous efforts to strengthen citizen knowledge of and participation in government. Nominations, which are due December 1, 2008, should be made in the form of a letter (maximum 500 words) describing the nominee's work and how it addresses the mission of the CPLE. The letter also should include the name of a reference who can provide additional information about the nominee. Supporting materials may be submitted; please limit print materials to 10 pages and audio-visual materials to 30 minutes. Self-nominations are encouraged. All nominations will be kept confidential. Nominations should be addressed to: Pam Inglesby, WSBA, 1325 Fourth Ave., Ste. 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539. E-mail submissions are acceptable, and may be sent to pami@wsba.org. Further information about the CPLE may be found at www.wsba.org/ple. 2009 Licensing Information and Changes Verify your address in the online lawyer directory (http://pro.wsba.org) to ensure that you will receive the 2009 licensing forms. You are required to keep your contact information current; see Admission to Practice Rule 13. Licensing forms changes. In an effort to control costs and simplify renewal, the 2009 licensing forms have been changed significantly from previous years' forms. One change to note: The form(s), which will be mailed at the end of November, will arrive in a standard-size envelope. WSBA Bylaw Section II.E.1.b. on Armed Forces fee exemption provides for a license 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. LOMAP and Ethics Traveling Seminar Join us for the LOMAP and Ethics Traveling Seminar October 21 in Walla Walla, October 22 in Richland, or October 23 in Yakima. Future dates are November 4 in Oak Harbor and November 5 in Bellingham. The seminar includes these topics: safeguarding client property; required trust account records; minding your matters; and winding down: the golf course beckons. To register, contact Julie Salmon at 206-733-5914, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org. Monthly Lawyer Discussion Roundtable Hosted by 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., October 14, November 11, and December 9. Walk-ins are welcome! The roundtable is held at the WSBA office. 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 boundaries. Figure out what your limits are, then practice saying "no." If you'd like help, call the WSBA 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. 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 October 13 clinic will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the WSBA office and will focus on using Excel and Word. The October 16 session will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and will focus on using PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat Version 8 (redaction and Bates numbering). 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 October 8 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. Speakers Available The WSBA Lawyers Assistance Program offers speakers for engagements at county, minority, and specialty bar associations, and other law-related organizations. Topics include stress management, life/work balance, and recognizing and handling problem-personality clients. Contact Barbara Harper at 206-727-8265, 800-945-9722, ext. 8265, or barbarah@wsba.org. 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, or 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. 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, 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, 800-945-9722, ext. 5914, or juliesa@wsba.org. Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings 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 Margaret Shane at 206-727-8244, 800-945-9722, ext. 8244, or margarets@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 September 2008 was 1.935 percent. Therefore, the maximum allowable usury rate for October 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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