Elder Law Section Donates to Legal Aid for Washington Fund

Seattle, Washington, February 12, 2001 — The Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) has made a $10,000 donation to Legal Aid for Washington (LAW) Fund. The donation was presented on February 12 at the Harbor Club in Seattle.

This is the second year that the Elder Law Section's 545 members have donated to LAW Fund. The Section is committed to improving access to services needed by the elderly, such as low-cost legal services, insurance and health care. LAW Fund was chosen as the donation recipient because it assists the elderly in accessing such services.

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 it 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.

The WSBA's 23 sections were created to provide members who have specialized interests a forum in which to pursue their interests consonant with the interests of the WSBA. Sections support the continuing legal education of lawyers, cooperate in the development of the legislative program of the association, and organize and inform section members of issues and events in their areas of interest. Membership in sections is voluntary, and sections are entirely self-supporting.

LAW Fund was created in 1991 by members of the private bar in Washington. The mission of LAW Fund is to ensure equal justice by raising funds to preserve and expand civil legal services for low-income people in the state.