The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC) is looking for a candidate to serve in the Commission-appointed position on the SEEC.

The SEEC is a seven-member, volunteer body that interprets and administers Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program, as well as the Whistleblower Protection, Ethics, Elections, Lobbying and Voters’ Pamphlet Codes. The SEEC advises the City Council and the Mayor on promoting ethics in government, and appoints and oversees the work of an executive director, who is charged with implementing SEEC decisions. Commissioners act as judges when a person is charged with violating one of the Commission-administered codes, and issue advisory opinions. Through staff, the SEEC publishes guides to the codes it enforces, and conducts educational programs on the Commission-administered codes.

The SEEC meets the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m., and occasionally Commissioners need to attend special meetings. Commission members usually spend between two and five hours per month on SEEC business, although the workload can vary.

Commissioners serve three-year terms and can be reappointed. The successful candidate will be selected by the six current commissioners, and must be confirmed by the City Council. The appointee’s terms will start early in 2019 and run until December 31, 2021. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Residency in the City of Seattle, while not required, is an asset. Commissioners cannot be active in Seattle election campaigns during their time on the Commission. To be considered for appointment to the SEEC, please send a letter of interest and resume by December 14, 2018 by e-mail to wayne.barnett@seattle.gov, or by mail to: Wayne Barnett, Executive Director Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission P.O. Box 94729 Seattle, Washington 98124-4729 For more information, please contact Wayne Barnett at (206) 684-8577, or by e-mail at wayne.barnett@seattle.gov.

Supreme Court Invites Public Participation in Bar Structure Work Group

Apply by Dec. 7 to help determine the future of legal regulation in Washington state

SEATTLE, WA [Nov. 15, 2018] — The Washington Supreme Court seeks applications for a public member to serve on its work group to conduct a comprehensive review of the structure of the Washington State Bar Association

(WSBA).

WSBA operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state’s nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals. In furtherance of its obligation to protect and serve the public, the WSBA both regulates lawyers and other legal professionals and serves its members as a professional association.

Pending lawsuits regarding the legal status of bar associations across the nation as well as recent case law prompted the Washington Supreme Court to form the bar-structure work group. It will ultimately make a recommendation to the full Court as to WSBA’s future structure, which might be remaining status quo, dividing into a mandatory and a voluntary bar association, or forming some sort of hybrid.

Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst will chair the 10-person work group, which has one seat reserved for a public (nonWSBA member) representative. The work group will review and assess WSBA’s structure in light of recent case law with First Amendment and antitrust implications; recent reorganizations by other state bar associations and their reasoning; and the additional responsibilities of WSBA due to its administration of Supreme Court appointed boards.

Meetings will be held at WSBA offices in Seattle. Meetings will begin in January 2019 and will be held every three to four weeks for six to eight months. All meetings will be open to the public; a schedule will be posted at wsba.org when available.

Interested applicants should apply to:

The Supreme Court, Attention: C.J. Mary Fairhurst

PO Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504

Applicants should indicate they are applying for the public-member position and include the reason for their interest and pertinent background information. The deadline for applications is Dec. 7, 2018. In making its selections, the court will be looking for diversity in all its aspects.

About the Washington State Bar Association

The WSBA operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state’s nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals. In furtherance of its obligation to protect and serve the public, the WSBA both regulates lawyers and other legal professionals and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA’s mission is to serve the public and the members of the Bar, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice. For more information, visit www.wsba.org.

Request for Content Proposals

2019 Access to Justice Conference

Amplifying the Power of Community

Spokane Convention Center

June 14-16, 2019

We’re excited to announce that the Access to Justice Board’s Conference Planning Committee is now accepting proposals and ideas for the 2019 Access to Justice Conference. This year’s theme, Amplifying the Power of Community, seeks to shine a spotlight on the our collective power when community members, advocates, judges, attorneys, leaders, funders, and policymakers across Washington State come together to champion justice.

Please share this call for proposals widely with your networks! The Conference Planning Committee is committed to centering the voices of those who are most directly affected by the systems in need of changing. We strongly encourage proposals from a wide variety of perspectives: those who experience injustice; staff and volunteers from social service organizations, government agencies, community-based organizations and coalitions; members and leaders from communities of color; social justice funders; civil legal aid advocates; criminal justice workers; private pro bono and low bono legal professionals; court staff and administrators; members of the judiciary; nonprofit capacity-builders; students and teachers; and many others. Please help us by forwarding this email to your colleagues and networks who share our commitment to equity and justice.

To learn more about the criteria and submit a proposal, please fill out this form by January 4, 2019. If you have any questions or need assistance submitting the form, please contact BonnieS@wsba.org. If necessary, you may request a Word version of the proposal form to fill out and submit by email. The proposal form is also attached here as a PDF for your convenience.

To learn more about the Conference, visit us online at http://allianceforequaljustice.org/accesstojusticeconference. We will post conference details to this page as they become available.

Rsvp@therainierclub.com for the final Legal Roundtable lunch of 2018, featuring Jorge Barón, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

Club members may register online at www.therainierclub.com.

Details :

Nov 14, 1130am to 130pm, $28.

Mr. Barón, a former child actor from Bogotá ,Colombia performing with his famous father of the same name, is a Yale Law School trained lawyer who immigrated to the US when he was 13 years old. As Executive Director of NWIRP in Seattle, he has become a player on the world legal stage, including his role fighting the first Trump Muslim Ban and in more recent events. In 2017 Seattle Magazine named him one of Seattle’s most influential people, and he and NWIRP have been repeatedly recognized by the legal community for outstanding pro bono service on human rights issues that impact all of us.

This Legal Roundtable lunch is open to guests.

For an update on Legal Roundtable events, please see the attached November newsletter.

Current and prospective Roundtable members are welcome at the monthly first Tuesday meetups in Eddie’s Place at The Rainier Club at 630pm. The next meetup is Nov 6.

We are excited to announce that we have total of four 1L Diversity Scholarships available this year in addition to a 1L Patent Prosecution Scholarship in our Seattle office!

We would very much appreciate your help in bringing our diversity and patent scholarships information to the attention of your first-year law student members! Our online application site will be open on December 1st through January 2nd for our Patent Prosecution Scholarship and through January 6th for our Diversity Scholarship. Please click here for more information.

Additionally, we want to invite 1L students who might be in Pacific Northwest over the holidays to come meet us at the following event:

Seattle: Seattle Area Legal Recruiting Association (SALRA) is hosting their annual Diversity Reception on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 5:00 pm (at Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt). It will be a great opportunity to meet attorneys and recruiters from firms all over Seattle, most of whom offer 1L Diversity Scholarships. Although information is not yet updated, please visit the SALRA website here for more details within the next couple of weeks.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

For New York, Portland, and Washington D.C. Scholarships

Hiroko Peraza

Diversity Outreach Recruitment Manager

Email: hirokoperaza@dwt.com

For Seattle 1L Diversity and Seattle Patent Scholarships

Brook Dormaier

Law Student Recruiting Manager

Email: brookdormaier@dwt.com

MAMA Seattle is thrilled to announce it is now accepting applications for the 2019 Ladder Down program. Information about the program, the 2019 schedule, and applications are available here:

http://www.mamaseattle.org/ladder-down.html

Ladder Down is a business development program for women attorneys in all practice areas at any level. It lasts a year and the class meets once or twice a month. Led by an experienced faculty of nationally recognized career coaches, the program provides a structured, proven approach to help lawyers take their careers to the next level by focusing on helping women attorneys develop skills to build a book of business or rise through the corporate counsel ranks and enhance leadership skills. Faculty members Marianne Trost and Lynn Moran will lead group presentations on Saturday mornings, supported by monthly small group sessions that allow for individualized follow up and accountability. Panel discussions and individual consultations round out the formal program. Ladder Down participants also benefit from the support, mentoring, and referral network developed between fellow participants. Also, as a participant, you will receive 27.5 CLE credits.

The year-long program begins January 11, 2019, and the application deadline is December 1, 2018. The schedule, curriculum, faculty bios, tuition, and scholarship information and the application are all posted on the MAMA Seattle website.

This is an amazing opportunity for a select group of women attorneys to have access to personalized business development and leadership training designed to take you and your career to the next level. Past participants have included small, medium, and large firm partners and associates, corporate counsel, in-house counsel, government attorneys, and attorneys in (or looking to) transition. Email ladderdown@mamaseattle.org; mhaddad@helsell.com; or rachel.reynolds@lewisbrisbois.com with questions or contacts to previous class participants about their experience.

Once again in partnership with The Judicial Institute, Seattle University Law School is sponsoring the 2019 Judicial Institute Fellows Clinic for those attorneys from a diverse background interested in pursuing a judicial career in the future.  Please note the Judicial Institute has a new website:  www.judicialinstitutewa.org

APPLICATION PROCESS & FEE – DEADLINE Friday November 9, 2018

Interested applicants with at least eight years or more of experience should submit a letter of interest, resume, and an application. The application materials are available at www.judicialinstitutewa.org 

Fellows accepted into the Judicial Fellows Clinic will be assessed a $100 fee. If this fee will pose a hardship, please notify the Judicial Institute at info@judicialinstitute.org.

CONTACTS

More details are here.

MAMA Seattle invites you to attend our next monthly lunch seminar:

How to Lean In While Leaning Out

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When:

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Presentation will be from 12-1, with networking time before and after.

Where:

Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, 1420 Fifth Ave., Suite 3400, Seattle, WA 98101

RSVP: through Big Tent (preferred if you are a MAMAS member) or by email to lunchseminars@mamaseattle.org. Please identify if you will attend in person in Seattle or if you will participate by phone.

How to lean in while leaning out: A panel discussion featuring four attorneys who will discuss taking time off or working part-time while raising young kids and address how to stay engaged and on track while on extended leave or part-time in order to facilitate the move back to “leaning in.”

Averil Rothrock. Averil Rothrock has over 20 years of litigation experience and has advocated in more than 50 appeals in Washington’s Court of Appeals and 14 review proceedings before the Washington State Supreme Court, in addition to regular work in the Ninth Circuit. Averil also helps clients who are not parties use the amicus curiae process to provide input to the courts on issues of concern. Averil served as Chair of the Appellate Section of the King County Bar Association from 2012-2013. Averil is a member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association, which admits members based on demonstrated appellate credentials. Averil serves on the Board of the King County Bar Foundation and the WSBA’s Civil Litigation Rules Drafting Task Force and performs pro bono work for Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Averil started as an associate at Schwabe in 1994 as a commercial litigator. She has reinvented her practice a few times, and counts career survival after “off-ramping” among her accomplishments.

Sharon Rutberg. Sharon Rutberg is a founding member of Salmon Bay Law Group, PLLC, located in Ballard and providing legal services in the areas of estate planning and probate. Sharon is also the mother of two young-adult children. She returned to practicing law in 2014 after a hiatus of 14 years. Sharon began her legal career in corporate litigation and government regulation in Washington, D.C. She worked at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now WilmerHale), the U.S. State Department, and the Office of the White House Counsel, where she worked on the Whitewater hearings. In 1997, Sharon left full-time paid employment to raise her two young children. With unexpected family moves to the Bay Area and then Seattle, a planned short break turned into a long period away from the practice of law. In the interim, Sharon was a “stay at home mom” with a series of part-time work roles, paid and volunteer, law-related and otherwise. In 2006, Sharon started a freelance legal editing business. Sharon became a member of the Washington State Bar Association in 2014. Today, Sharon is a member of the Real Property, Probate & Trust (RPPT) Sections of the Washington State Bar Association and King County Bar Association, serves on the editorial board of the Washington Bar Association’s RPPT Newsletter, and volunteers with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). She also belongs to the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the Washington Association of Elder Law Attorneys (WAELA). Sharon is currently pursuing a LLM in Elder Law at Seattle University School of Law. When she is not practicing law, Sharon enjoys reading, walking her dogs, and spending time with her husband and children.

Robin Schachter. Robin Schachter is Director of Corporate Relations at Gamoran Legal Consulting. Robin was a member of the MAMA Seattle board of directors for five years, serving as its President in 2015. She has been an advocate for the success of women and mothers in the legal profession for her entire career and was instrumental in bringing the Ladder Down program to Seattle. Her daughter is now a sophomore in high school. Robin will be happy to show you the photos of her little grandsons, courtesy of her stepdaughter and daughter-in-law! Robin was a partner at the law firm Ryan Swanson & Cleveland for 10 years, after starting her civil trial law career there as an associate. In 2013, she joined the legal recruiting firm of Gamoran Legal Consulting, where she helps law firms and corporate legal departments find great lawyers, and works with individual attorneys to hone their career options. She regularly advises attorneys who have taken sabbaticals or breaks in their traditional careers, and is proud to have placed several women in new legal careers during a pending pregnancy. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Robin worked as a stage manager for the Alaska Repertory Theatre in Anchorage and founded a semi-professional theatre company in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She managed field operations and sales for her family’s national fresh produce marketing business, based from a vineyard in the Finger Lakes of New York, and helped run a residential contracting and spec home company before moving to Seattle to attend law school at the University of Washington. Her nontraditional career path helps Robin advise others on how to identify and market the strengths and talents we develop throughout all aspects of our lives.

Elisa Ford. Elisa Ford is a solo practitioner whose practice focuses exclusively on humanitarian and family immigration law. Elisa is a former Clerk to the Honorable Robin Hunt of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II and has a diverse background in public interest law and complex statutory and regulatory analysis. She served as a Policy Analyst for the Maryland State Legislature and as an Associate at a small plaintiff’s law firm in Baltimore, MD, focused on providing relief to inner city-children poisoned by lead paint. Dedicated to promoting access to legal services, Elisa has provided pro bono legal services as a volunteer with the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project (CARA), the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). In May of 2015, Elisa traveled to Dilley, Texas, where she spent a week volunteering with CARA to provide pro bono legal assistance to women and children refugees detained in prison-like conditions at the South Texas Residential Detention Center. Elisa also enjoys volunteering at One America's Citizenship Day events in WA, helping low-income legal permanent residents prepare naturalization applications. When not working, Elisa enjoys exploring the trails and waterways of the Northwest with her husband and twin 8-year old boys.

We encourage you to attend our lunch seminar in person to facilitate both networking and a lively discussion.

Please bring your lunch, join us for this presentation, and meet fellow MAMAS members! Cookies will be provided.

For those who cannot attend in person, we offer the option to participate by phone.

Call in #: 888-757-0729; Passcode: 1396142354#

When attending via telephone, please use your mute button to prevent background noise, but do not place the call on hold. Some firms have hold music, which is disruptive to the presentation. If you need to leave the call briefly, please hang up and call back in when you are able.

MAMA Seattle would also like to thank our

Platinum sponsors:

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Garvey Schubert Barer

K&L Gates LLP

Yarmuth Wilsdon PLLC

Gold sponsors:

Keller Rohrback LLP

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Perkins Coie LLP

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

Summit Law Group PLLC

www.MAMASeattle.org

Washington Women Lawyers is seeking nominations for individuals to receive two very special awards at our upcoming Annual Event this October:

Passing the Torch Award. Intended to recognize an individual who has gone above and beyond with regard to mentoring women lawyers and “passing the torch” to others in a way that supports the WWL mission of furthering the full integration of women in the legal profession, promoting equal rights and opportunities for women, and preventing discrimination against them.

Legacy Award. Created in 2009 to memorialize the inspiring personal and professional legacies within the organization, such as the legacies of founding and key sustaining members, so that current and former members can understand, honor and build upon that progress.

This is a golden opportunity for you to show a fellow member that you’ve noticed their contributions and believe them worthy of special WWL recognition!

To nominate someone for an award, please fill out the appropriate form and return it to Liz Findley at secretary@wwl.org by Saturday, August 4, 2018. A list of past award recipients is included with the nomination forms and can also be found on the WWL website.

Thank you, and we look forward to spending time with you at the Annual Event on October 12, 2018!

Gonzaga University is offering a Certificate in Women’s Leadership, a 3-month, non-degree course to learn skills and practices for advancing women in the workplace. Applications are due Aug. 3. Learn more at https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-leadership-studies/departments/women-in-leadership/certificate-in-womens-leadership.