News & Information of Interest to WSBA Members
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THE BAR BUZZ
Save on CLEs
From April 27 through May 11, more than 500 on-demand CLEs are 50 percent off! Visit www.wsbacle.org.
WSBA NEWS
2021 License Renewal Notice
If any portion of your license fee, Client Protection Fund assessment, or late fee remains unpaid, or if required certifications have not been filed by 5 p.m. PDT on May 4, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court will enter an order suspending your license to practice law (Admission and Practice Rule 17).
WSBA Deskbooks Now Available Through LexisNexis®
The WSBA and LexisNexis® Legal & Professional have entered into a joint publishing agreement under which LexisNexis will handle the sale and distribution of deskbooks in print and will also offer deskbooks for the first time in eBook format. The WSBA’s staff will continue to recruit and work with leading Washington practitioners to develop and update its library of deskbooks, which have been recognized as authoritative sources on Washington law and practice and have been cited in over 250 Washington appellate court opinions. You can now find WSBA deskbooks on the LexisNexis store at https://store.lexisnexis.com/site/wsba. Questions? Call 800-533-1637.
Run for Governor At-Large
Applications are due April 20 for the governor at-large position representing young lawyers. The election for the at-large position will begin June 1. All materials should be emailed to barleaders@wsba.org. More information is available at www.wsba.org/elections.
Run for WSBA President-Elect
Applications are due April 20. Candidates must have their primary place of business in Eastern Washington. Candidates will be interviewed and selected by a vote of the full Board of Governors at the May Board meeting. Email your application form, letter of interest, and résumé to barleaders@wsba.org. More information available at www.wsba.org/elections.
WSBA Board Feedback
Send your feedback to the newly created email address: boardfeedback@wsba.org. Please note that all WSBA emails are subject to public records requests.
Comment on MCLE Proposal
The Washington Supreme Court is seeking comments on a proposed change to Admission and Practice Rule (APR) 11 that would require legal professionals to devote at least one of six mandated ethics credits, per reporting cycle, to the topic of “equity, inclusion, and the mitigation of bias in the legal profession and practice of law.” The proposal was suggested by the MCLE Board with support from the WSBA Board of Governors. The MCLE Board appreciates all the input provided thus far and encourages everyone—even those who have previously commented—to provide their comments to the court at this time. The deadline for comments is April 30. Comments are to be submitted to the clerk of the Supreme Court at supreme@courts.wa.gov, or mailed to P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, Washington 98504-0929. (Note: emailed comments must be less than 1,500 words.) Learn more at www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules.
Receive Notice of Upcoming Board Meetings
Join the new Board meeting notice subscription list to receive WSBA Board of Governors meeting notices straight to your inbox! To join, email barleaders@wsba.org or complete the form on www.wsba.org/about-wsba/who-we-are/board-of-governors.
VOLUNTEER
Leaders Wanted
The annual WSBA volunteer application and selection cycle opened March 15. The WSBA and the legal community greatly benefit from the incredible dedication, skill, and knowledge of our 1,000 (and counting) volunteers. More information here: www.wsba.org/connect-serve/volunteer-opportunities.
Volunteer with the Lawyer Discipline System
Learn more about volunteering as an adjunct disciplinary counsel (ADC). ADCs assist as needed in carrying out the functions of the lawyer discipline system pursuant to Rule 2.9 of the Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct. An ADC must have been an active lawyer or judicial member of the WSBA for at least seven years at the time of appointment. Appointment is for a five-year term. Visit www.wsba.org/adc-panel or contact theaj@wsba.org to learn more.
Custodians Needed
The WSBA is seeking interested lawyers as potential volunteer custodians of files and records to protect clients’ interests. Visit www.wsba.org/connect-serve/volunteer-opportunities/act-as-custodian, or contact Sandra Schilling: sandras@wsba.org, 206-239-2118, 800-945-9722, ext. 2118; or Darlene Neumann: darlenen@wsba.org, 206-733-5923, 800-945-9722, ext. 5923.
Volunteers Needed As Attorney Advocates
Unique opportunity to assist families or individuals in crisis by serving as a volunteer attorney advocate on the first-ever national advocacy hotline. Work from home or office at times you choose with hotline calls routed there. Resolution is typically achieved in under an hour. The nonprofit Help Now! Advocacy has assisted at no fee over 8,700 clients, mostly in Oregon, over the past 17 years. The organization is expanding its unique services to a national scope through the hotline. Contact LMKahn@HelpNowAdvocacy.org for more information.
RESOURCES
Practice Guides Available
Access two practice guides—”The Law Firm Guide to Document Retention” and “The Law Firm Guide to Disaster Planning and Recovery”—as well as other law firm guides and templates at www.wsba.org/guides.
Information for Job Seekers and Employers
Visit the WSBA Career Center to view or post job openings at https://jobs.wsba.org. The special discounted rate for nonprofit, government, and small-firm employers, to prevent pricing from becoming a barrier as the legal community continues to navigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, has been extended through June 30. Contact Michael Reynolds at 612-968-3431 or michael. reynolds@communitybrands.com for more information.
Career Consultation
Get help with your résumé, networking tips, and more—www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/consultation—or email wellness@wsba.org.
Free Consultations and Practice-Management Assistance
The WSBA offers free resources and education on practice management issues. For more information, visit www.wsba.org/pma. You can also schedule a free phone consultation with a WSBA practice-management advisor. Visit www.wsba.org/consult to get started.
Lending Library
Due to the COVID-19-related closure of the WSBA office, the WSBA Lending Library is closed. Visit www.wsba.org/library for more information.
Free Legal Research Tools
The WSBA offers resources and member benefits to help you with your research. Visit www.wsba.org/legalresearch to learn more and to access Casemaker and Fastcase for free.
ETHICS
Ethics Line
Members facing ethical dilemmas can talk with WSBA professional responsibility counsel for informal guidance. Learn more at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/ethics/ethics-line or call the Ethics Line at 206-727-8284.
WSBA Advisory Opinions
Available WSBA advisory opinions are available online at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/ethics/about-advisory-opinions. For assistance, call the Ethics Line at 206-727-8284.
WSBA MEMBER WELLNESS
WSBA Connects
WSBA Connects provides all WSBA members with free counseling on topics including work stress, career challenges, addiction, and anxiety. Visit www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/wsba-connects or call 800-765-0770.
Judges Need Help Too
The Judicial Assistance and Services Program (JASP) provides confidential support for judges, or those who are concerned about a judge. Contact Susanna Kanther, Psy.D., at 415-572-3803. Visit www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/judicial-assistance-service-program.
The ‘Unbar’ Alcoholics Anonymous Group
The Unbar is an “open” AA group for attorneys that has been meeting weekly for over 25 years. Due to COVID-19, the group is holding virtual meetings via Zoom; contact them at unbarwa@gmail.com. You can also find more details at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/addiction-resources.
WSBA COMMUNITY NETWORKING
Sign Up for Low Bono
The Moderate Means Program connects moderateincome clients with family, housing, consumer law, and unemployment cases to legal professionals who offer reduced fees. Find out more here: www.wsba.org/connect-serve/volunteer-opportunities/mmp.
New Lawyers List Serve
This list serve is a discussion platform for new lawyers of the WSBA. To join, email newmembers@wsba.org.
ALPS Attorney Match
Attorney Match is a free online networking tool made available through the WSBAendorsed professional liability partner, ALPS. Learn more at www.wsba.org/connect-serve/mentorship/find-your-mentor, or email mentorlink@wsba.org.
QUICK REFERENCE
April 2021 Usury
The usury rate for April 2021 is 12.00%. The auction yield of the March 1, 2021, auction of the six-month Treasury Bill was 0.061%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(a) and 4.56.115 for April 2021 is 2.061%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(b) and 4.56.111 for April 2021 is 5.25%.
HAVE SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY TO SHARE? Email wabarnews@wsba.org if you have an item you would like to place in Need to Know.
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COVID-19 News to Know
WSBA COVID-19 Resource Webpage
All WSBA resources, including member support, law firm management, free CLEs and webinars, information about Washington courts, opportunities to help, and resources for the public can be found here: www.wsba.org/COVID-19.
Court Emergency Operations & Closures
The Washington Supreme Court has published a COVID-19 response page, which is a compilation of its emergency orders and court modifications: www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/index.cfm?fa=newsinfo.COVID19.
Law Office Reopening Guide
The WSBA Coronavirus Response Task Force compiled recommendations for how to safely reopen a law office in Washington. Find the guide “Reopening Safely: A Guide for Washington State Law Offices,” at www.wsba.org/docs/reopen.