Labor and Employment Law Section
The Labor and Employment Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association is one of the larger and fastest growing sections of the WSBA, mirroring the growth of the practice area. The Section includes members who practice many different aspects of labor and employment law, including lawyers representing private and public sector employers, unions, management, and individual employees, as well as law professors, arbitrators, and other neutrals.
The Section provides benefits to members by coordinating events that keep practitioners informed on the latest developments in employment law, which promotes competency and ethical practice in the Bar. The Section hosts an annual CLE and business meeting, and also funds a labor and employment law summer work internship for a student at each of the three law schools. Members of the Section also meet with law students throughout the year.
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Section Executive Committee Elections
The Section is conducting elections for open positions on the executive committee.
Voting is scheduled for June 5-19, 2023. All voting members of the Section will be sent an electronic ballot from SurveyMonkey via email on June 5, 2023.
Candidate Information, Open Positions, and Terms
For more information about the Section and its executive committee, please review the Section's bylaws.
At-Large Member – Plaintiff
One position open. 3-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2026.
Candidate: Cassandra Lenning | Statement of Interest
At-Large Member – Public Sector, Defense
One position open. 3-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2026.
Candidate: Sarah E. Spierling Mack | Statement of Interest
Questions? Email sections@wsba.org.
Webinar: Recent Appellate Developments in Washington State Employment Law
This one-hour seminar focuses on recent appellate developments in Washington State employment law.
Faculty:
Kelby Fletcher, Stokes Lawrence, P.S., Seattle
This video is not accredited for CLE credit and is available for viewing for up to one year after the live event date (April 13, 2023).
Webinar: 'What Everyone Should Know About Accommodating Religious Preferences'
This seminar covers accommodating the religious preferences of employees with:
- the factors and elements of accommodation
- timely and practical examples of accommodation
- sample compliant language
- predicting future problems
Faculty:
Seth Rosenberg, Seattle Litigation Group, PLLC, Seattle
Aaron Rocke, Rocke Law, PLLC, Seattle
This video is not accredited for CLE credit and is available for viewing for up to one year after the live event date (Aug. 23, 2022).
Past Events and On-Demand Products
Additional on-demand products are available and can be found in the CLE store.
20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference
Nov. 12, 2020, Seattle
This CLE features lively and informative panels, including the annual Employment Law Year in Review and an ethics presentation geared toward labor and employment practitioners in the Zoom era. This CLE also includes a panel on race, politics, and free speech in the workplace, a panel on updates on accommodations and workplace safety issues, a panel that weaves together the various employee benefits that may be accessed or impacted during COVID-19, and a panel on strikes, pickets, walk-outs, work refusals, and lock-outs. Available on demand as a whole or by individual sessions.
19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference
Nov. 14, 2019, Seattle
This CLE featured lively and informative panels, including an ethics presentation geared toward labor and employment practitioners. Also featured is a panel on weaving together the changing legal landscape on family and medical leaves. Don’t miss the update on strategies for handling changes to Washington’s non-compete laws. We round out the program with a nuts and bolts on formulating settlement agreements and dealing with union counsel. Available on demand as a whole or by individual sessions.
18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference
Nov. 30, 2018, Seattle
This program provided 7 CLE credits, including one hour of ethics. Get updates on the issues of most concern to labor and employment law practitioners presented by panels of leading practitioners. Available on demand as a whole or by individual sessions.
Advising Unions and Employers on Washington's Sick Leave Law Mini-CLE
Feb. 8, 2018, Seattle
This one-hour CLE discussed practical guidance on implementing sick leave policies, negotiating with unions on changes to policies and rules, common mistakes made by employers and unions on implementing changes, and the remedies and ramifications for non-compliance.
Annual Meeting and 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference
Dec. 1, 2017, Seattle
The section sponsored this CLE, tailored to the needs of Washington attorneys to learn about the most relevant and current issues in labor and employment law. Some materials presented at the seminar are linked below.
Observations and Recent Appellate Developments in Washington State Employment Law by Kelby Fletcher
Recent Developments in Federal Employment Law by Jillian Barron
Avoiding Litigating Duty of Fair Representation Claims: Plaintiff, Union, and Management Perspectives CLE
June 15, 2017, Seattle
The section sponsored this CLE that provided plaintiff, union, and management attorney perspectives on responding to the duty of fair representation claims. CLE attendees left with an understanding of fair representation and how to resolve, mitigate, and/or successfully prosecute such an action. Approved for one Law and Legal Procedure CLE credit for Washington attorneys. A reception followed the CLE.
Avoiding Litigating Duty of Fair Representation Claims: Plaintiff, Union, and Management Perspectives CLE
June 15, 2017, Seattle
This CLE provided plaintiff, union, and management attorney perspectives on responding to the duty of fair representation claims. CLE attendees left with an understanding of fair representation and how to resolve, mitigate, and/or successfully prosecute such an action. Approved for one Law and Legal Procedure CLE credit for Washington attorneys. A reception will followed the CLE.
Executive Committee
Chair: Cassandra Webster Lenning (2022-2023) Secretary: Angela Hayes (2022-2023) Treasurer: Lauren Paris Watts (2022-2023) Immediate Past Chair: Tina Aiken (2022-2023) Young Lawyer Liaison: Devon Blevins (2021-2023) Board of Governors Liaison*: Mary Rathbone (2022-2023) and Alec Stephens (2022-2023)
*Nonvoting member | Members: |
Meetings
The Executive Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section conducts meetings monthly. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m., currently via video conference.
Meeting ID: 846 1208 4823 Passcode: 953775
Please contact committee members for all other details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
Join Our List Serve
To join the section list serve and for general questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For questions about the Section and to get involved, please contact Section Chair Cassandra Lenning.
