WSBA Board of Governors to Meet in Tacoma, November 30-December 1

Seattle, Washington, November 28, 2001 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Board of Governors will hold its next meeting November 30-December 1 at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel in Tacoma. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, and is open to the press and public.

On behalf of the WSBA Legal Services to the Armed Forces Committee, Ken Luce and Capt. Bruce McDonald will propose an amendment to the Admission to Practice Rules to provide a limited license to lawyer members of the armed forces stationed in Washington. The amendment seeks to provide in-court representation in civil matters in Washington courts for active duty junior enlisted personnel and their dependents who are unable to afford attorney fees without undue hardship.

At the October board meeting, representatives of several legal groups characterized the anticipated budget cuts for law and justice as a statewide court-funding crisis. They asked the WSBA to establish a workgroup to study the issues and propose solutions. At this week's meeting, the board will discuss court-funding issues and the most effective way to proceed with a workgroup. Some of the factors they will consider are separation of power between the legislature and the judiciary; state vs. local funding; court efficiency; and access to justice.

WSBA Legislative Liaison Gail Stone will present the Legislative Committee's recommendations for the 2002 legislative session.

The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 26,500 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member service activities.