Equity and Justice

The mission of the WSBA is to serve the public and members of the Bar, to ensure integrity of the profession and to champion justice. Guided by the mission and under the authority of the Supreme Court as outlined in General Rule 12.1 and 12.2, the WSBA works to promote equity and justice in the legal profession and legal system. Some examples pf how equity and justice work fulfills the purposes and objectives of the WSBA include: 

• A legal profession that reflects the diversity of people in our state promotes goodwill between the Bar and the public and freedom from discrimination for those who receive legal services.
• A diverse legal profession improves the quality of legal services because a diversity of varied identities and perspectives results in more innovation, more informed decisions, and more thorough processing of facts. 
• A legal profession that is inclusive will result in successful recruitment, engagement and retention of talent which ultimately improves the quality of legal services.
• A legal profession that is inclusive and where every member feels they belong fosters collegiality among the members. 
• A diverse legal profession where there is meaningful inclusion will improve the regulation of the profession and the quality of legal services because professionals who have been historically excluded will bring perspectives informed by communities who have experienced barriers to accessing justice. 
• A legal profession that is equitable, accessible, and fair means that every member and potential member has the same access to opportunities to join, stay, and thrive in the profession and maintain high standards of competence, professionalism, and ethics. 
• A diverse legal profession where everyone feels they belong and have equitable access and experiences in the profession will result in a stable legal workforce with high retention rates, which will ultimately improve the quality of legal services. 
• Conversely, if the legal profession does not reflect the diversity of people in our state who need legal services, and underrepresented legal professionals disproportionately experience a lack of belonging and the impacts of inequitable policies and access to opportunities, they may leave the profession. This may result in a reduced legal workforce that could create disruption and dysfunction in the legal system and reduced public trust.

The Washington State Bar Foundation helps fund WSBA equity and justice programs that address unmet egal needs like through the Powerful Communities Project; ensuring the legal profession reflects the communities it serves and supports all members. Learn more about the Foundation online here or email foundation@wsba.org.