Small Town and Rural Practice Committee
The WSBA Small Town and Rural Practice — STAR — Committee is committed to strengthen and support the practice of law in the rural communities throughout Washington state. Members of the STAR Committee will work to ensure that the practice of law in rural communities is present, growing, and thriving.
Practitioners in rural communities are few and far between. Additionally, many of these practitioners are nearing retirement without a clear plan of succession for their clients, leaving a void of access to legal representation and counsel. The STAR Committee members will guide policy and program development, serve as ambassadors between the WSBA and these communities, explore and advocate for creative and innovative solutions, and regularly assess the legal landscape in rural communities to determine if WSBA policy, advocacy, and program development require further resource for sustainability and improvements. To learn more about the STAR Committee's purpose, composition, scope of work, and roles, review the STAR Committee Charter.
The formation of the STAR Committee is the result of work conducted by the Rural Practice Project.
Meet the STAR Committee Members
2022-2023
Kari Petrasek, Chair Sunitha Anjilvel, Board of Governors Member Hunter Abell, Board
of Governors Member
Allison Foreman, At-large Member Rusty McGuire, Rural Member Kathryn Burke, Rural Member Sarah Cuellar, Rural Member Elizabeth Penoyar, Rural Member | Merf Ehman, Qualified Legal Service Provider Member Zachary Bryant, Young Lawyer Member Laurie Powers, Gonzaga University School of Law Member Erin Fullner, Seattle University School of Law Member Vacant, University of Washington School of Law Member
Mary Rathbone, Board of Governors Liaison Sunitha Anjilvel, Board of Governors Liaison Julianne Unite, Staff Liaison |
For questions, please email Committee Chair Kari Petrasek or staff liaison Julianne Unite.
STAR Committee Meetings
Next Meeting
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Washington State Bar Association, that a Small Town and Rural Committee meeting will be held on:
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 │ Time:12:10–1:10 p.m.
Zoom: Meeting ID: 879 0573 6111 | Passcode: 811616 | Zoom Link
Agenda:
- Introductions, October Meeting Recaps, and Approval of October Meeting Minutes (Gov. Kari Petrasek)
- WSBA Updates (Gov. Petrasek and Julianne Unite)
- Subcommittee Report Updates, if any (Subcommittee chairs Laurie Powers, Gov. Petrasek, Betsy Penoyar)
- CLE/Webinar (Karen Duncan)
a.CLE Chair - Career Center Discount Updates and Discussion (Julianne Unite)
- Board of Governors Priorities Discussion (Gov. Petrasek)
- One America Volunteer Request Discussion (Gov. Petrasek)
- University of Washington Representative Update (Gov. Petrasek and Julianne Unite)
- Other Business
- Next Steps/ Conclusion
- Next Meeting: Jan. 25, 2023
- Adjournment
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please email julianneu@wsba.org.
Note: Discussion and action may be taken on any item on the agenda. The time and order of agenda items are subject to change at the discretion of the committee chair.
Past Meeting Materials & Minutes
FY 2022
October 2021
November 2021
January 2022
February 2022
March 2022
April 2022
May 2022
June 2022
July 2022
August 2022
September 2022
