News, Information, and Resources of Interest to WSBA Members
. . .
Washington Leadership Institute Releases New Podcast Series > Listen to the limited series podcast, Voices that Move Us: Leadership, Legacy, and the Law, which celebrates 20 years of the Washington Leadership Institute, a visionary collaboration between the Washington State Bar Association and the University of Washington School of Law. Each episode features compelling stories from WLI alumni that build legacy, fuel change, and inspire a more inclusive future. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Learn more at www.wsba.org/news-events/latest-news/news-detail/2025/08/27/washington-leadership-institute-releases-new-podcast-series.
WSBA NEWS
2026 License Renewal and Sections Information
License Renewal is Paperless (online only). Licensing will open in November. Notifications and reminders will be sent by email. Please be sure your email address is current, and emails from the wsba.org domain will not be marked as spam. License renewal must be completed online at www.wsba.org/licensing where you will be able to complete required certifications and securely pay your license fee or print an invoice to mail with a check.
Deadlines:
Dec. 31, 2025
- Complete MCLE credits
Feb. 2, 2026
- Pay license fee
- Certify trust account information and liability insurance disclosure or financial responsibility
- Certify MCLE credits
- Optional: Request license fee exemptions and reductions
Certify MCLE Compliance. If you are in the 2023–2025 reporting period, then you are due to report CLE credits and certify MCLE compliance. The deadline for completing credits is Dec. 31, 2025. Please note you cannot earn more than 8 credits in a calendar day. The certification must be completed online by Feb. 2, 2026. Visit www.wsba.org/MCLE to learn more.
License Fee Payment Plan, Exemptions, and Reductions. If you are experiencing financial challenges, a payment plan option is available. Payments may be made in up to five installments with the balance required to be paid in full by Feb. 2, 2026. License fee exemptions and reductions are available for licensed legal professionals who qualify. Visit www.wsba.org/licensing to learn more.
Member Pronouns. You may include pronouns on your profile in the WSBA Legal Directory. Please go to https://mywsba.org to include yours! Pronouns are words used to refer to someone in the third person in place of their name. The purpose of including them is to indicate how others can respectfully refer to you.
Voluntary Demographic Information. Please update your information at www.wsba.org/licensing 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. Visit www.wsba.org/sections to learn more.
Pro Bono Status. If you are considering going inactive, pro bono status is a great alternative that lets you provide pro bono services through a qualified legal services provider (QLSP). The license fee will be waived for pro bono status members who completed at least 30 hours of pro bono service with a QLSP in the prior year. Learn more at www.wsba.org/statuschanges.
Judicial Status. Please note 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/statuschanges to learn more.
Attend the Rural Hiring Event
Join Gonzaga University School of Law, in partnership with the WSBA Small Town & Rural Council, Seattle University School of Law, and University of Washington School of Law, at the free virtual hiring event “Rural Practice: Small Towns, Big Opportunities.” This event will connect attorneys and law students and will feature pre-selected and scheduled interviews for open positions and “drop-in” sessions to connect participants informally. Learn more and register at www.wsba.org/connect-serve/committees-boards-other-groups/small-town-and-rural-council by Oct. 19 (job seekers).
Bench-Bar-Press Event
Save the date to join us for the annual Bench-Bar-Press Committee luncheon, 12–2 p.m., Nov. 7, at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle. The Bench-Bar-Press Committee was formed in 1963 to foster better understanding and working relationships between judges, lawyers, and journalists who cover legal issues and courtroom stories. The mission of the committee is to seek to accommodate, as much as possible, the tensions between the constitutional values of “free press” and “fair trial” through educational events and relationship building. The luncheon is $65 per person. Send questions to Patric Haerle, Administrative Office of the Courts, patric.haerle@courts.wa.gov. Learn more at http://www.courts.wa.gov/committee/?committee_id=77.
Free Deskbooks
The WSBA has partnered with the Washington State Law Library to offer expanded FREE lending of all WSBA Deskbook titles. For nearly 50 years, these publications have served as indispensable resources across a wide range of practice areas, offering clear analysis, real-world insights, practice tips, forms, and checklists. Explore the selection of Deskbooks at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/deskbooks/explore-deskbooks.
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 an ethics concern about the conduct of a lawyer. Spanish speakers can click “En Español” on the top menu bar at http://www.wsba.org to learn more. 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.
Please Complete Your Confidential Demographics Form
Did you know that the WSBA regularly publishes a variety of demographic information about the WSBA membership? This information is essential to understanding the makeup of the profession, assessing the services the WSBA provides, and informing policymakers as they contemplate changes related to regulation of the practice of law. We highly encourage WSBA members to participate in this voluntary demographic information collection. Please answer the short survey of demographic questions during your license renewal. If you have already renewed your license, you can still return to the license renewal page (www.wsba.org/licensing) to complete the demographics section. Individual gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability information is kept strictly confidential, and is used only in the aggregate for demographic analysis. Thank you for your participation.
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 second Wednesday of each month from 8:30-10:00 a.m. via Zoom) is reserved for member comments. All topics are welcome. Visit the events calendar at www.wsba.org for more information.
Explore the WSBA Lending Library
Looking for your next great summer read? The WSBA Lending Library is a free service to WSBA members offering the short-term loan of books on topics related to practice management, wellness, and career development. Visit www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-support/lending-library to explore the catalogue.
VOLUNTEER
Pro Bono Volunteers Needed
Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP), serving King County, currently has a high need for experienced pro bono attorneys in the areas of family law, immigration, and debt/bankruptcy. ELAP staff provide on-boarding and ongoing practical support. Commitment is typically 1-3 hours per month. Most clinics are held virtually, so you can volunteer easily from your home or office. Visit https://elap.org/pro-bono/ to learn more and sign up.
Volunteer for Veterans
Can you answer the call to service? The Washington Attorney General’s Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance (OMVLA) is seeking volunteer attorneys who can offer assistance with civil legal issues. The OMVLA facilitates civil legal assistance for Washington veterans, service members, and their families by handling requests for legal assistance and referring them to qualified volunteer attorneys. Register to volunteer by filling out the form at www.atg.wa.gov/volunteer-opportunities.
Volunteer as Mock Trial Co-Chair
WSBA CLE is recruiting an experienced litigation practitioner to help plan the annual Trial Advocacy Program (TAP). TAP is designed for attorneys working in the criminal or civil arena with little to no trial experience, but a strong desire to become effective trial lawyers. As co-chair, you would attend the program and earn CLE credits at no charge. Learn more at www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/wsba-cle/new-member-education.
Rule of Law Ambassador Program
The WSBA invites you to join its volunteer Rule of Law Ambassador Program, which will equip volunteer legal professionals to educate their local communities about the importance of an independent legal profession as a cornerstone of U.S. democracy and to build relationships to increase trust and confidence in the rule of law. Visit www.wsba.org/ambassadors to learn more and volunteer.
WSBA CLE Volunteer Presenter
WSBA CLE is currently seeking volunteer CLE speakers on the topics of limited practice officer/title/escrow, and legal technology/AI. If you are interested in presenting a CLE on one of the above topics, visit https://zurl.co/saqX to sign up. Please email rachelm@wsba.org if you have questions.
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 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 and clinics2@lbaw.org.
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, please email trialad@uw.edu. Find out more at www.law.uw.edu/academics/experiential-learning/moot-court.
RESOURCES
Have You Reviewed Your Group Health Options?
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. WSBA 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. Visit https://wsba.memberbenefits.com/employer-group-solutions/ to start your no-obligation market analysis and group health quote today on the WSBA Insurance Marketplace.
Defense Standards: Guidance and FAQs
For public defenders, local jurisdictions, and other stakeholders in Washington’s justice system looking to implement the new WSBA Standards for Indigent Defense Services, find a guidance document and FAQs at www.wsba.org/connect-serve/committees-boards-other-groups/public-defense.
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.
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.
Discounts Available: Software & 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.
WSBA MEMBER WELLNESS
Washington Lawyers Assisting Lawyers
Washington Lawyers Assisting Lawyers is a new nonprofit that offers free and confidential services. WALAL is separate from the WSBA and is not affiliated with any 12-step organization. WALAL’s trained lawyer volunteers serve as peer counselors to lawyers, judges, and law students facing substance use and other mental health challenges. To learn more about WALAL, to seek assistance, or to volunteer as a peer counselor, see www.WALAL.org or email info@walal.org.
Share Your Story
The Member Wellness Program wants to hear your inspiring stories. We know there are many challenges you have faced and hardships you have overcome. Share your story anonymously (some stories may be published) at https://tinyurl.com/c5c8frft. Your story can make a difference in the lives of your fellow legal professionals.
Virtual Mental Health Support Group
The free group Healing Minds, led by WSBA staff Adely Ruiz, LICSW, and Dan Crystal, Psy.D, meets the first Thursday of every month from 12-1 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.
Health Benefits
The WSBA Private Health Insurance Exchange offers members access to the most competitive group health insurance solutions on the market. Speak to a benefits counselor and request a free quote today at www.memberbenefits.com/wsba.
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. Currently, the group meets online via Zoom, and attorneys from all over Washington participate. For more information and Zoom credentials contact unbarwa@gmail.com.
ETHICS
Ethics Line
Members 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
Oct. 2025 Usury
The usury rate for October 2025 is 12.00%. The auction yield of the Sept. 2, 2025, auction of the six-month Treasury Bill was 4.013%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(a) and 4.56.115 for October 2025 is 6.013%. The interest rate required by RCW 4.56.110(3)(b) and 4.56.111 for October 2025 is 9.50%.