WSBA Board of Governors to Meet in Vancouver, October 19-20

Seattle, Washington, October 15, 2001 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Board of Governors will hold its next meeting October 19-20 at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, Washington. The meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday and 10:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, and is open to the press and public.

Representatives of the Idaho, Oregon and Utah bar associations will be present for a joint discussion of reciprocity, multi-jurisdictional practice, and other issues affecting lawyers in Western states. King County Bar President Ralph Maimon will initiate a discussion about statewide court funding options. Earlier this year, the Washington Supreme Court approved a rule that establishes the Practice of Law Board (POLB). The Board of Governors will review the plan for implementing the POLB and will discuss the selection of POLB members.

While in Vancouver, WSBA President Dale Carlisle is available to speak with the media about "portability" of judges in superior courts to increase courthouse efficiency — a constitutional amendment (ESJR 8208) that will be before the voters next month.

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.