SECTION SPOTLIGHT
BY ANNE WATANABE
Q. What is the most valuable benefit members get from joining your Section that they can’t get anywhere else?
World Peace Through Law provides Section members with frequent one-hour CLEs covering a wide range of topics related to human rights and peace worldwide. Because our members (as well as our speakers) are located across the country and overseas, we were doing remote webinars long before the pandemic. Through our list serve, we alert our members to other CLEs and events that may be of interest. Our Section is small and unique. World Peace members are involved in a wide range of practice and interest areas, but we are united in a desire to stay informed about human rights laws and peace through law, whether at home or abroad.
Q. What is a recent Section accomplishment or current project that you are excited about?
We’ve initiated several projects that engage our Section with the broader community. Last year, we partnered with the King County Library System to host book group discussions with the public, in which we touched on themes of law and justice. Our innovative past chair, Regina Paulose, developed our “listen in” series, with attorney panelists speaking on matters of race and justice. Topics thus far have included the Black Lives Matter movement, anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, environmental racism, and the intersection of LGBTQ and race identities. We look forward to continuing these important discussions. And this year we’ve partnered with other WSBA sections, as well as the American Bar Association (ABA), to present CLEs that respond to our shared interests. Our incoming chair elect Randy Winn and the WPTL executive committee will continue to engage our members with topics that inspire.
Q. What opportunities does your Section provide for members who are looking for a mentor or for somebody to mentor?
We do not have a formal mentorship program, but we have regularly participated in law school events, and we are grateful for the participation of our young lawyer liaisons.
Q. What advice do you have for building a successful practice in the area of law related to your Section and how does membership in your Section help do that?
Members can connect with each other via our list serve and tap into the collective knowledge of our membership. And because our members represent a variety of practice areas, including human rights law, there’s a lot of expertise out there. For those interested in human rights careers, being involved with our Section is a way to find out more about relevant organizations and attorneys, not only in Washington, but around the world, who are doing the work you want to do.
Q. In addition to membership in your Section, what are the best ways to stay up on the developing law in this practice area?
Attend our CLEs and other events to learn about individuals and organizations who are active in the areas of law that interest you. Also, the ABA’s International Law Section draws membership nationally and regularly sponsors training and seminars that will help practitioners develop new skills and keep up with new developments.
Learn more > The Section membership year is Jan. 1 – Dec. 31. For more information and to join the World Peace Through Law Section, or any other Section, visit www.wsba.org/legal-community/sections/sections.
SIDEBAR
Titles Available From the Lending Library Related to World Peace Through Law
- The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First, by Jeffrey Pfeffer
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor, by Layla Saad
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Strategies for Facilitating Conversations on Race, by Caprice Hollins and Ilsa Govan
- Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement, by Ejeris Dixon and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America, by James Forman Jr.
- So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo
