News & Information of Interest to WSBA Members
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WSBA NEWS
2022 License Fee Payment Plan Option
If you are experiencing financial challenges, please note that our payment plan option is available to all licensed legal professionals for the 2022 license fee. Payments may be made in up to five installments with the balance required to be paid in full by Feb. 1, 2022. To take full advantage of the plan, sign up and pay the first installment in October 2021. Also, a license fee hardship exemption is available for active licensed legal professionals who qualify. Visit www.wsba.org/licensing to learn more.
Supreme Court Rule Changes: MCLE and Malpractice Insurance Disclosure
On June 4, the Washington Supreme Court adopted two rule changes that will affect many lawyers. The first, an amendment to RPC 1.4—Communication, submitted by the WSBA, requires mandatory disclosure to and consent from clients if lawyers do not meet minimum levels of malpractice insurance coverage (read more on page 36); the second, an amendment to APR 11—Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), submitted by the MCLE Board, specifies that one of the required ethics credits be in the category of equity, inclusion, and bias mitigation. The WSBA is creating resources to help members navigate these new requirements; look for more information soon. The orders can be found at www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.adopted.
MCLE Reporting
MCLE certification has opened early for lawyers, LLLTs, and LPOs in the extended 2018-2021 and the 2019-2021 MCLE reporting periods. Licensed legal professionals in these reporting periods must earn their CLE credits by Dec. 31, 2021, and certify by Feb. 1, 2022. If you have any questions, please reach out to the MCLE team at 206-733-5987 or mcle@wsba.org. Find more information at www.wsba.org/mcle.
WSBA Small Town and Rural (STAR) 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.
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 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 at www.wsba.org/about-wsba/who-we-are/board-of-governors.
VOLUNTEER
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.
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.
RESOURCES
Virtual Job Group
The Virtual Job Group will be meeting on Zoom beginning Sept. 30 from 9-10:30 a.m. The group will meet for seven weeks and seeks to provide both strategy and support to job seekers. This is a chance to learn new approaches to networking, clarify what kind of career you are seeking, and review your materials with other group members. If you are interested email wellness@wsba.org.
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
The WSBA Lending Library is scheduled to reopen to members on Sept. 1 for both in-person and online checkouts. We have made a few changes to be aware of. For more information, visit www.wsba.org/library or email lendinglibrary@wsba.org.
Free Legal Research Tool
The WSBA offers resources and member benefits to help you with your research. Visit www.wsba.org/legal-research to learn more and to access 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
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
Sept. 2021 Usury
The usury rate is 12.00%. The auction yield of the Aug. 2, 2021, auction of the six-month Treasury Bill was 0.056%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3) (a) and 4.56.115 for Sept. 2021 is 2.056%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(b) and 4.56.111 for Sept. 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.