News, Information, and Resources of Interest to WSBA Members
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Employers: Reviewed Your Group Health Insurance Options Lately? > The group health insurance landscape is evolving. If you haven’t assessed your plan in a while, you might not know what you’re missing out on. Members have access to licensed benefits experts who can help you find out—at no cost. It’s a courtesy consultation, and it’s included with your membership. Make sure your company isn’t overlooking or overpaying. Start your no-obligation market analysis and group health quote today on the WSBA Insurance Marketplace at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/health-insurance-exchange.
WSBA NEWS
2025 License Renewal and Sections Information
License Renewal is Now Paperless (online only). Online licensing will open in November and must be completed by Feb. 3, 2025. Please be sure your email address is current and that emails from the wsba.org domain will not be marked as spam. License renewal includes paying the annual license fee and any mandatory assessments, certifying MCLE compliance, completing the trust account declaration, and disclosing professional liability insurance or financial responsibility. Pay online via credit card or electronic funds transfer or print an invoice to mail in with a check.
Certify MCLE Compliance. If you are in the 2022-2024 reporting period, then you are due to report CLE credits and certify MCLE compliance. The deadline for completing credits is Dec. 31, 2024. The certification must be completed online by Feb. 3, 2025. Visit www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/mcle to learn more.
License Fee Payment Plan Option Available. If you are experiencing financial challenges, you may contact us about our payment plan option available to all licensed legal professionals. Payments may be made in up to five installments with the balance required to be paid in full by Feb. 3, 2025. A license fee hardship exemption is available for active licensed legal professionals who qualify. Visit http://www.wsba.org/licensing to learn more.
Voluntary Demographic Information. Please update your information at https://licensing.wsba.org when online licensing opens in November. This information is essential to understanding the demographic makeup of licensed legal professionals in the state and can help inform better policymaking by decisionmakers, including the Washington Supreme Court.
Join or Renew Your Section Membership. The Section membership year is Jan. 1–Dec. 31. Learn more at www.wsba.org/legal-community/sections/about-sections.
Pro Bono Status. If you are considering going inactive, pro bono status (formerly known as emeritus pro bono status) is a great alternative that lets you provide pro bono services through a qualified legal services provider. The license fee will be waived for pro bono status members who completed at least 30 hours of pro bono service with a qualified legal services provider in the prior year. Learn more at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/license-renewal/status-changes/emeritus-pro-bono-membership-and-return-to-active-membership.
Judicial Status. Please note that you are required to inform the Bar within 10 days of your retirement or your ineligibility for judicial status (and you must apply to change to another status or to resign). Visit www.wsba.org/licensing to learn more.
Important Dates
- Dec. 31, 2024: Licensed legal professionals in the 2022-2024 reporting period must complete required MCLE credits.
- Feb. 3, 2025: Deadline for requesting the one-time License Fee Hardship Exemption.
- Feb. 3, 2025: License renewal, payment(s) and MCLE certification, if applicable, must be completed online.
Pathways to Productivity
Presented in collaboration with the WSBA’s Practice Management Program, this free group meets via Zoom every other week for six sessions, noon–1 p.m., Oct. 1–Dec. 17. We will continue offering additional six-week-long groups in later months. If you’re a legal professional navigating productivity challenges in the workplace, this group is tailored for you. Learn more and sign up at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/group-sessions.
Comment on Proposed Changes to Public Defense Standards
The Washington Supreme Court is seeking input on proposed changes to the court’s adopted standards for public defense. The proposed new standards would lower the maximum caseloads for public defense attorneys, revise some qualification requirements for public defense attorneys, set minimum support staffing requirements for public defense attorneys and offices, and align with the new indigent defense standards adopted by the WSBA in March. The public comment period is open through Oct. 31. Send your comments to supreme@courts.wa.gov or P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504-0929. To learn more, visit www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=50456.
Spanish Language Access to the Lawyer Grievance Process
Please help spread the word: Information, directions, forms, and telephone interpreters are now available in Spanish for anyone who would like to contact the state bar with a concern about the ethical conduct of a lawyer. Spanish speakers can click “En Español” on the top menu bar at http://www.wsba.org to learn more. If you would like flyers to post or cards to hand out to potentially interested people or organizations to spread awareness, please contact questions@wsba.org. This is a pilot project that the WSBA hopes to expand to more languages soon. Visit www.wsba.org/for-the-public/concerns-about-a-lawyer/preocupaciones-por-un-abogado.
Help Fill the Moderate Means Legal Need
The statewide Moderate Means Program serves moderate income clients through a network of attorneys and limited license legal technicians who offer assistance in family, housing, consumer, and unemployment law cases at reduced fees scaled to the client’s income. There is an urgent need for legal professionals to serve. Visit www.wsba.org/connect-serve/pro-bono-public-service/mmp for more information and join now through your myWSBA account, www.mywsba.org.
Engage With WSBA Leaders
The Member Engagement Council, which seeks member input and involvement in decision-making processes, wants to hear from you! The first agenda item of each meeting (the first Thursday of each month from 1-3 p.m. via Zoom) is reserved for member comments. All topics are welcome. Visit the events calendar at www.wsba.org for more information.
VOLUNTEER
UW Law Tax Clinic
The Federal Tax Clinic at the University of Washington School of Law has pro bono opportunities for attorneys, tax preparers, and enrolled agents. Clients are low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the IRS. The clinic will provide an orientation, onboarding onto CLIO management software, and mentoring throughout your time with the clinic. If you are interested, please contact John Clynch at 206-616-6266 or clyncher@uw.edu.
Be a Judge for UW In-House Competitions
The University of Washington School of Law hosts three in-house competitions during the school year and seeks local attorneys and judges to evaluate, score, and give feedback to the student competitors. If you are interested in judging the negotiation, mock-trial, and/or appellate advocacy competitions, please email trialad@uw.edu. Find out more at www.law.uw.edu/academics/experiential-learning/moot-court.
Legal Clinic Volunteers Needed
A free legal clinic put on by the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington, the King County Bar Association, and El Centro de la Raza is looking for attorney volunteers interested in doing pro bono work. The clinic takes place from 6-8 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month through November 2024 at El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill (2524 16th Ave. S, Seattle, 3rd Floor). Volunteers provide general consultations in areas of the law including immigration, family law, auto accidents, personal injury, worker’s rights/wage claims, tenant rights, and criminal law. For more information, email clinics@lbaw.org.
RESOURCES
IOLTA FAQs
Have questions about trust accounts? Check out the new IOLTA FAQs to learn important information about such topics as unidentified owners and unclaimed property, recordkeeping, disbursements, general banking, reconciliation, and more. Find the FAQs at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/practice-management-assistance/iolta-faqs.
Check Out the DEI Resource Library
The DEI Resource Library is where WSBA members can learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts. There are compiled resource lists, books, and articles on the criminal legal system, identity and intersectionality, microaggressions/bias, and race. Visit www.wsba.org/about-wsba/equity-and-inclusion/dei-resource-library.
WSBA Membership Counts
Did you know that the WSBA publishes membership statistics—including total count by license type, location, year of admission, practice type, and certain demographics—refreshed each month as part of the Who We Are page? Visit www.wsba.org/docs/default-source/licensing/membership-info-data/countdemo_20190801.pdf, or you can search “WSBA demographics” on any search engine to easily get to the right webpage.
Virtual Career Guidance Group
This free group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. This is a chance to receive guidance on your résumé, informational interviewing, applying for positions, and where you see yourself in your legal career. This group is led by Dan Crystal, Psy.D. Sign up at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/group-sessions.
Software and Services for Your Practice
As a member of the WSBA, you have access to the Practice Management Discount Network, a collection of discounts on products and services to help you improve your law practice. We offer discounts on conflict-checking, credit-card processing, encryption, cybersecurity, document editing, document management, e-discovery, marketing and website support, office supplies, practice management software, remote receptionists, and retirement planning. Learn more and access your discounts today at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/practice-management-discount-network.
Free Practice-Management Consultations
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.
WSBA MEMBER WELLNESS
Peer Advisor Training
Join our network of legal professionals as a peer advisor! Sign up for our free CLE training on Dec. 5 by completing the form at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/peer-advisors. Peer advisors are part of a network of legal professionals who are seeking to support lawyers. This is a great opportunity to make meaningful connections and offer support to fellow legal professionals.
Virtual Mental Health Support Group
The free group, Healing Minds: Managing Persistent or Overwhelming Challenges to One’s Well-Being as a Lawyer, led by WSBA staff Adely Ruiz, LSWAIC, and Dan Crystal, Psy.D, meets the first Thursday of every month from 1-2 p.m. Learn more and sign up at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness/group-sessions.
Telehealth is Here!
The Member Wellness Program is now offering hi-def, HIPAA-protected video consultations using the telehealth portal Doxy.me. Visit www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/wellness and click “Book Your Initial Consultation” to schedule time with our licensed providers.
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 Washington Unbar Alcoholics Anonymous group for legal professionals has been meeting regularly for almost 30 years. The group meets Wednesdays, 12:15–1:30 p.m., and Sundays, 7–8 p.m. Currently, the group meets online via Zoom, and attorneys from all over Washington participate. For more information and Zoom credentials contact unbarwa@gmail.com.
Health Benefits
The WSBA Private Health Insurance Exchange offers members access to the most competitive group health insurance solutions on the market. Enjoy unique cost-saving opportunities, complimentary enrollment technology, valuable HR tools, and voluntary premier-level ancillary benefits with special pricing and concessions. Speak to a benefits counselor and request a free quote today: www.memberbenefits.com/wsba.
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 COMMUNITY NETWORKING
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
October 2024 Usury
The usury rate for Oct. 2024 is 12.00%. The auction yield of the Sept. 3, 2024, auction of the six-month Treasury Bill was 4.823%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(a) and 4.56.115 for Oct. 2024 is 6.823%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(b) and 4.56.111 for Oct. 2024 is 10.50%.