Items of Interest


  • 03/04/2014 12:00 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    Invites you to attend our next monthly brown bag lunch:

    Protecting the educational rights of a child with disabilities: your own or your client’s

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

    When:

    Tuesday, March 4th, 2014, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    Where:

    Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 1201 Third Ave., Floor 22, Seattle, WA 98101

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

    MAMAS member Amy Klosterman of the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education will present on “Section 504, Title II and Public Schools.” Come learn your rights and your resources, the timelines and tough spots.

    (CLE credit for this session is being requested.)

    We encourage you to attend our brown bag meeting in person to facilitate both networking and a lively discussion.

    Please bring your lunch and 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.

    MAMAS would also like to thank our

    Platinum sponsors:

    Garvey Schubert Barer

    Navigant Consulting, Inc.

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

    and Gold sponsors:

    Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

    Dorsey & Whitney LLP

    K&L Gates LLP

    Microsoft Corporation

    Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt

    Susman Godfrey L.L.P.

    www.MAMASeattle.org

     

  • 03/02/2014 9:49 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)
    There are five (5) diversity scholarships available to attorneys who would like to attend the ABA Section of Family Law Spring Conference in Bermuda but may not have the financial resources to afford the cost. The Conference is May 7-10, 2014.

    If awarded a scholarship through this program, the awardees will receive a complimentary conference registration, participation in the Newcomers’ Teambuilding Event,the Friday social event, and up to $500 in travel reimbursement (in compliance with ABA and Section financial policies). Send your completed application to Cynthia Swan by email:Cynthia.Swan@americanbar.org no later than April 2, 2014. For your convenience, I have attached the application and conference brochure. For more information on the conference, you can visitwww.ambar.org/famlawspring

  • 03/02/2014 9:44 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    Volunteer Opportunity for community representatives – DEADLINE March 21, 2014

    Community Representatives Sought for Law-Related Boards and Council

    The Washington State Bar Association seeks members of the public to serve on boards and one council for terms beginning October 1, 2014. Serving on a WSBA board or council is an excellent opportunity to get an insider’s view on how the practice of law is regulated in Washington State.

    ·         The Character and Fitness Board deals with matters of character and fitness bearing on qualifications of applicants for admission to practice law in Washington. The Board conducts hearings on the admission of any applicant referred to it for hearing, considers petitions for reinstatement after disbarment, and makes recommendations to the Board of Governors and Supreme Court regarding admission and reinstatement.  Hearings generally are held every month.  Three of the 14-16 members of the Board are not lawyers.  Appointment is for a three-year term.

    ·         The Council on Public Defense addresses concerns about the quality of indigent defense services in Washington State.  Appointment is for a one-year term.

    ·         The Disciplinary Board reviews lawyer discipline decisions. It is made up of four review committees; each committee has two lawyer members and one non-lawyer member. One committee meets each month to review requests for public hearing, admonitions, interim suspensions and other matters. The board meets six times a year as a full board.  Two positions are available; appointment is for a three-year term.

    ·         The Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Board compensates clients who have suffered a direct financial loss caused by the dishonest conduct of a lawyer in connection with the practice of law. The Fund is funded by an annual assessment of members of the WSBA by order of the Washington State Supreme Court.  Appointment is for a three-year term.

    ·         Limited License Legal Technician Board authorizes non-attorneys who meet certain educational requirements to advise and assist clients on specific areas of law. Licensing of LLLTs will begin in early 2015.  Appointment is for a three-year term.

    The Limited Practice Board oversees administration of, and compliance with, the Limited Practice Rule (APR 12) authorizing certain lay persons to select, prepare, and complete legal documents pertaining to the closing of real-estate and personal property transactions. The Board is responsible for the certification and regulation of limited practice officers (LPOs).  Term begins January 1, 2015.  Appointment is for a four-year term.

    ·         Practice of Law Board investigates complaints about the unauthorized practice of law including nonlawyers advertising legal services, nonlawyers pretending to be lawyers, unsupervised paralegals offering legal services, and out-of-state lawyers representing Washington residents when not authorized.  Appointment is for a three-year term.

    Applications are also being accepted for other boards which may have openings during the coming year.

    Applications must be received at the WSBA offices by Friday, March 21, 2014. To apply, complete the application posted at: http://bit.ly/rnvXKY and return it with your resume as directed on the form. Previous applicants should re-apply as applications expire after one year. Appointment letters for current openings will be sent in late summer. If you have questions, please email barleaders@wsba.org.

     

    http://www.wsba.org/Legal-Community/Volunteer-Opportunities/Non-Lawyer-Volunteer-Opportunities

  • 02/21/2014 4:30 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    MOOT COURT COMPETITION

    The ABA Law Student Division needs 1,500 licensed attorneys to serve as moot court competition judges in February / March at federal and state courthouses in Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle. Please visit www.ambar.org/lsdnaacjudgepage for specific details about the regional moot court competitions and to sign up to be an oral argument judge.


    Action Item: Thank you

    • Register to judge the Seattle Regional National Appeallate Advocacy Competition

    https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5gt3KUNN1FB9tJz

    • Please forward this email to any colleagues who may also be interested in volunteering to judge the competition.

    The ABA Law Student Division invites you to participate as an oral argument judge for the 2013-14 Seattle Regional National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC). This moot court competition takes place February 21-23, 2014 at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

    You may have received this message previously and responded; however, we still need approximately 100 more judges for the regional competition and we need your help. If you have any colleagues who may be interested in participating as a volunteer judge, please forward this message to them. Judging assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Within 10 business days after receipt of your form, we will send an email confirming judging assignments. Later this month, we will provide a bench memorandum, the problem (record), and instructions on judging. Reviewing these materials is the only preparation required of competition judges.

    This year’s case involves two questions. The first examines the difference between “use” and “access” to determine whether an intern violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act when she removed some of her work from the company’s computer files just before resigning her position. The second addresses whether a law student intern qualifies as an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is thus entitled to compensation.

    As a judge, you will have the opportunity to interact with the finest advocates from law schools across the country. With 203 teams from 118 ABA-approved law schools competing at the regional level, NAAC is one of the largest moot court competitions in the country.

    The rounds take place in the late afternoon on Friday, February 21, all day on Saturday, February 22, and in the afternoon on Sunday, February 23.

    Round 1: Friday, Feburary 21 (4:30 pm to 8:45 pm)

    Round 2: Saturday, Feburary 22 (8:30 am to 12:45 pm)

    Round 3: Saturday, February 22 (1:30 pm to 5:45 pm)

    Round 4: Sunday, Feburary 23 (1:00 pm to 3:30 pm)

    Round 5: Sunday, Feburary 23 (3:30 pm to 6:00 pm)

    **Competition start times are approximate and may change depending on the needs of the court.

    If you are willing to serve as a judge, please enter your contact information and round selection on the form located at:

    https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5gt3KUNN1FB9tJz

    We need approximately 200 judges for the regional competition. If you have any colleagues who may be interested in participating as a volunteer judge, please forward this message to them. Judging assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Within 10 business days after receipt of your form, we will send an email confirming receipt of your registration. Beginning in late January, we will provide a bench memorandum, the problem (record), and instructions on judging. Reviewing these materials is the only preparation required of competition judges.

    CLE CREDIT INFORMATION

    The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition is seeking CLE credit in the states of Washington and New York.

    Please contact Sara Stretch at 312.988.5621 or at naac@americanbar.org if you have any questions.

    The development of oral and written advocacy skills is very important in the context of legal practice. We sincerely hope you will be able to participate in this great learning experience for law students by serving as a judge.

    Thank you for considering this invitation.

     
  • 02/14/2014 11:45 AM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    Spokane County Bar Diversity Luncheon
    Celebrating Black History Month
    Friday, February 14, 2014
    11:45 A.M. - 1:15 P.M.
    The Spokane Club, 1002 West Riverside Avenue, Georgian Room, Spokane, Washington

    Presentation Topic:  Beyond altruism:
    Why diversity matters in the success and health of your business


    Please  join  our  distinguished  panelists,  secured  in  collaboration with  the Washington Initiative for Diversity, for a presentation on why diversity is still important in the legal profession and how it can impact your business health and success in our society.

    Price: $35.00 Worth 1.0 ethics credit
    REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 5:00 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 10, 2014

    http://www.spokanebar.org/

  • 02/07/2014 8:25 AM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    Washington State Bar Association

    Applying the Neuroscience of Decision Making to the Practice of Law:

    Tools to Maximize Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Fairness

    With Kimberly Papillon, nationally recognized expert on legal decision making. The program will use an interactive approach to understanding bias and to explain how attorneys – whether in litigation or transactional practice – make decisions, how these decisions can be affected by subtle, unconscious processes and preconceptions, and how such thoughts and actions can be changed to increase the impartiality and fairness of the decisions made.

    When: Friday, Feb. 7. 2014

    8:25 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    Where: WSBA Conference Center

    1501 4th Ave., Ste. 308

    Seattle, WA 98101-1660

    (with a live webcast option)

    Register here for the LIVE Seminar: https://www.mywsba.org/OnlineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=5965389&page=sem&mt

    Register here for the WEBCAST Seminar:https://www.mywsba.org/OnlineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=5966840&page=sem&mt

    Approved for 6 ethics credits for Washington attorneys.

    Tuition: $275

  • 01/29/2014 6:38 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)
      Outstanding Young Lawyer Call for Nominations
     
    The Board of Trustees of the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) invites you to nominate young lawyers (defined as those in the first five years of practice, or up to the age of 36 by Dec. 31, 2014) whom you feel are deserving of the 2014 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award.
     
    The award will be presented at the KCBA Annual Awards Dinner this June. 
    The award recognizes any combination of the following:

     a.       Substantial contributions to the legal profession of a legal or non-legal nature
     b.      Substantial contributions to the King County Bar Association
     c.       Substantial contributions to the community
     d.      Demonstrated excellence in their legal practice
     
     To nominate a young lawyer, please email the following to Cate Humpage at cateh@kcba.org:
     
    a.       a resume or brief biography of the nominee;
    b.      and a brief letter or a few paragraphs detailing how your nominee embodies the traits above and why the nominee deserves the Outstanding Young Lawyer award.

    The deadline is February 14, 2014
     

     
  • 01/29/2014 6:15 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)
    American Bar Association
    Forum on the Construction Industry Diversity Fellowship 2014
     
    THE FORUM IS CURRENTLY SEEKING DIVERSE CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS TO APPLY FOR FELLOWSHIPS TO BE AWARDED IN THE SPRING OF 2014.
    Up to four (4) three-year Fellowships may be awarded by the Forum each spring. Fellows receive the following benefits:
     
     ·        Waiver of all registration fees for the Forum’s Fall, Mid-winter, and Annual Meetings;
     ·        Reimbursement of reasonable travel and accommodation expenses associated with attending the Forum’s Annual Meeting held each spring (not to exceed $1,000 per annum);
     ·        Waiver of Forum membership dues;
     ·        Payment of ABA membership dues in the following amounts: 100% in Year 1; 66% in Year 2; and 33% in Year 3;
     ·        The opportunity to join the steering committee of one of the Forum’s twelve (12) Divisions; and
     ·        If desired, the Forum will arrange a mentor for each Fellow.
     
    The ideal candidates will have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in construction law. If you are aware of diverse construction lawyers who may be interested in applying for the 2014 Fellowship, please direct them to www.americanbar.org/groups/construction_industry where they can find more information about the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry and download an application for the 2014 Fellowship. Completed Fellowship applications must be received on, or before, Friday, February 7, 2014. The application deadline will not be extended.
     
    If you have any questions about this program, please contact:
     
    Arlan D. Lewis (Chair, Fellowship Committee)
    Phone: 205.521.8131
     

     

  • 01/29/2014 6:13 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs

    CAPAA Board Vacancy

    The Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) is currently accepting applications to fulfill the position of Commissioner as part of its Board. CAPAA serves to improve the well-being of Asian Pacific Americans by ensuring their access to participation in the fields of government, business, education and other areas.

    If selected, the individual will help examine and define issues pertaining to the rights and needs of Asian Pacific Americans. Commissioners also make recommendations to the Governor and state agencies with respect to desirable changes in program and law.

    · Visit www.capaa.wa.gov for information on how to apply online.

    Please submit your applicationby January 31, 2014 to receive consideration for this opening

  • 01/29/2014 6:11 PM | WWL Admin (Administrator)

    WSBA Committees, Boards, Panels, Councils and Task Forces

    Application deadline: Feb. 28, 2014

    Applications are now being accepted from members interested in serving on WSBA’scommittees, boards and panels.

    Committee service gives you a chance to get involved with issues you care about, connect with other lawyers from around the state, and make a contribution to the legal community and your profession.

    Openings include:

    Most appointments are for two years and begin Oct. 1, 2014, with some exceptions.

    To apply, log into your www.myWSBA.org page and click on “My Profile” on the top menu bar. Then, look on the right-side menu bar for “Apply for a Committee, Board or Panel.”

    For more information, see theWSBA Volunteer Opportunities pageon our website, email barleaders@wsba.org, or call Sue Strachan, WSBA legal community outreach specialist, at 206-733-5903.

If you are a member or from the public and have an event or news to share, please post it here below!  All events or news must be of interest to WWL members.

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