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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Alfredo Tryferis Olympia Attorney Nancy Koptur Receives WSBA Local Hero Award
As the president of Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services (TCVLS), and a member of its board of trustees for many years, Ms. Koptur has been an indefatigable volunteer and legal advocate on behalf of low-income people facing legal problems in the civil-court system. Ms. Koptur has been a frequent volunteer at TCVLS since 1997. In the last two years, she has volunteered at more than 35 legal clinics. She has served as an interviewing attorney meeting with clients and has taught a "Do It Yourself" divorce class. She has provided training to volunteers at TCVLS and other service agencies, has taught continuing legal education courses, and last fall helped plan an extensive three-day "boot camp" training for new TCVLS volunteers, at which she was also a featured presenter. Ms. Koptur also spearheaded TCVLS participation in the Family Support Center auction in 2005, which tripled the money raised for legal services, and she is an active advocate for TCVLS with the Washington State Combined Fund Drive, which allows state employees and public agency retirees to contribute to various charities. "I can think of no other volunteer who is as constant and dedicated in her volunteer activities in support of legal services for the most vulnerable members of our community and who makes such a direct contribution in so many ways to the realization of equal justice," wrote TCVLS Director Scott Douglas in nominating Ms. Koptur for the award. About the WSBA As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; and administers the lawyer-discipline system. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities. The governance of the WSBA is vested in its 14-person Board of Governors. There are three governors from the seventh congressional district; one from each of the other eight districts; and three at-large members, one of whom represents the Young Lawyers Division. The 2005-2006 president is S. Brooke Taylor, of Port Angeles, and the 2005-2006 president-elect is Ellen Conedera Dial, of Seattle. The Board meets regularly (every six weeks) at various locations around the state, and its meetings are open to the public. Much of the work of the Bar is carried out through 23 standing committees; 24 sections; and a Young Lawyers Division, with its many committees. |
Seattle, Washington, January 17, 2006 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) announced that Olympia attorney Nancy Koptur received its Local Hero Award, presented to lawyers who have made noteworthy contributions to their communities. WSBA President S. Brooke Taylor presented the award to Ms. Koptur at a luncheon with members of the WSBA Board of Governors, Thurston County Bar Association, and Government Lawyers Bar Association on January 13 at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia.