News & Information of Interest to WSBA Members
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WSBA NEWS
MCLE Reporting
Lawyers, LLLTs, and LPOs in the extended 2018-2021 and the 2019-2021 MCLE reporting periods have the option to certify their CLE credits early (starting in July 2021). Licensed legal professionals in these reporting periods must earn their CLE credits by Dec. 31, 2021, and certify by Feb. 1, 2022. For more information visit www.wsba.org/mcle, or if you have any questions, please reach out to the MCLE team at 206-733-5987 or mcle@wsba.org.
WYLC Awards
The deadline is July 5 to nominate new or young lawyers who deserve recognition for their long-term public service and extraordinary contribution to the community. Submit nominations for the Washington Young Lawyers Committee (WYLC) Public Service and Leadership Award at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/new-members/public-service-and-leadership-award.
Section Elections
Ballots will soon be arriving by email for voting members of a WSBA section to elect future section leadership. Section elections run June 7 to 30. Find more information at www.wsba.org/legal-community/sections/sections or contact sections@wsba.org.
Board Election Results
Congratulations to the newly elected members of the WSBA Board of Governors: Sunitha Anjilvel for District 1, Daniel D. Clark for District 4, Francis Adewale for District 5, and Serena Sayani for District 7S. Their terms will begin in September.
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.
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
Represent the WSBA on Committees and Boards
ABA House of Delegates, application deadline is June 4; Court User Work Group Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Case Management System Project, application deadline is June 11; Judicial Information Systems Committee, application deadline is June 11; Certified Professional Guardianship Board, application deadline is July 30. To apply, email a letter of interest and résumé to barleaders@wsba.org. For more information, visit www.wsba.org/wsba–representative.
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 firstever 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.
THE BAR BUZZ
Seeking Volunteers for WSBA Rural Committee
The WSBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the formation of a Small Town and Rural (STAR) Committee to study and implement initiatives to support rural practice and access to justice in the “legal deserts” of Washington. For questions or to indicate your interest in getting involved, contact barleaders@wsba.org.
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 Dec. 31. Contact Mike Credit at 727-494-6565 Ext 3332 or michael.credit@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
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 moderate income 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 WSBA endorsed professional liability partner, ALPS. Learn more at www.wsba.org/connect-serve/mentorship/find-your-mentor, or email mentorlink@wsba.org.
QUICK REFERENCE
June 2021 Usury
The usury rate for June 2021 is 12.00%. The auction yield of the May 3, 2021, auction of the sixmonth Treasury Bill was 0.035%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(a) and 4.56.115 for June 2021 is 2.035%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(b) and 4.56.111 for June 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.