The Council of the ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law is proud to announce our participation in the “21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge,” and we invite LEL Section members to join us. The 21-Day Challenge was conceived several years ago by diversity expert Eddie Moore, Jr. to advance deeper understandings of the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy and oppression.

Our Section will begin the 21-Day Challenge on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. The goal of the Challenge is to assist each of us to become more aware, compassionate, constructive, engaged people in the quest for racial equity. It transcends our roles as lawyers. It is, of course, completely voluntary to do, and participation in the Challenge shall not be construed as agreement with every word of every assignment nor a commitment by any person to a particular professional position or strategy. Further, participants are free to opt out of participating along the way. There is no grade at the end of the Challenge.

The Challenge invites participants to complete a syllabus of 21 short assignments (typically taking 15-30 minutes), over 21 consecutive days, that include readings, videos or podcasts. It has been intentionally crafted to focus on the Black American experience. The assignments seek to expose participants to perspectives on elements of Black history, identity and culture, and to the Black community’s experience of racism in America. Even this focus on Black Americans cannot possibly highlight all of the diversity of experiences and opinions within the Black community itself, much less substitute for learnings about any other community of color. This syllabus is but an introduction to what we hope will be a rewarding journey that extends far beyond the limits of this project.

If you plan to participate in the Challenge and would like to add your name to the Section’s list of colleagues who are doing so, please send a message to the Section office.

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/labor_law/membership/equal_opportunity/?fbclid=IwAR1VLm43YQ1M6OeDXjhSGw7PFFtmkrzfXSHgHIdlb6cooN2wV81B-f3Wq-I

A big thanks to everyone who was able to join us for the live premiere of our Online Pride Extravaganza and everyone who's tuned in since! If you haven't had a chance to watch yet, the program will remain available for you to watch any time here. ! 

Judge Lori K. Smith (Washington State Court of Appeals, Division One) is accepting applications for an unpaid summer externship beginning in mid/late June (with end date flexible).  The extern will primarily assist with research, writing, and drafting and finalizing memoranda and opinions.

Click here to learn more about Judge Smith.

Click here to learn more about the Washington State Court of Appeals.

To apply, please email the following to elaine.asaidali@courts.wa.gov<mailto:elaine.asaidali@courts.wa.gov> no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12:

  *  Cover letter

  *  Resume

  *  Law school transcript (unofficial is fine)

  *  Self-edited writing sample

  *  List of two professional references, with contact information

  *  One letter of recommendation

Interviews are anticipated to take place remotely the week of June 15.

Starbucks Corporation Law & Corporate Affairs Department 2020-2021 Diversity Mentorship Program

Please note that the deadline to submit an application has been extended to Wednesday, July 15^th.

Starbucks Law & Corporate Affairs Department is pleased to invite mentee participants for our Starbucks Diversity Mentorship Program. This program will connect Starbucks in-house lawyers with junior attorneys from diverse backgrounds in one-to-one mentorship relationships. Starbucks legal department boasts one of the most experienced and diverse groups of attorneys in the region, and our lawyers are excited to share their insights into learning the practice of law, navigating legal work environments, and strategies for future career development.

Following a virtual kick-off reception for incoming mentees and their mentors, this program will foster direct, informal interactions over a one-year period to help diverse junior attorneys connect and network in the community of legal professionals. The program is open to all lawyers in their first four years of practice who are active members of one or more minority bar associations or diversity affinity groups.

If you are interested in applying, please submit a cover letter and resume to Nadine Struwe at nstruwe@starbucks.com by Wednesday, July 1, 2020. In your cover letter, please identify your current area of practice (and your desired area, if different), your general interest in receiving mentoring, and the minority bar association(s) or affinity group(s) to which you belong. If you have any questions, please direct them to Nadine Struwe, and one of our committee chairs will follow up with you. 

The Korean American Bar Association of Washington is offering the Kate Seabright Scholarship for the second year from funds generously donated by Fox Rothschild and Kate's parents, Mike and Margaret Seabright. This year, KABA can offer $6,000 to a law student. 

This is the link to the scholarship: https://www.kaba-washington.org/law-students/scholarship

WSBA's COVID-19 PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS

The following is a non-exhaustive and developing list of pro-bono opportunities arising out of the coronavirus pandemic and consequential economic impacts. Check back for updates as the WSBA will update this list as we learn of additional resources.

If you have additional information you would like included, please contact publicservice@wsba.org.

Other COVID-19 resources and information for the public and WSBA members.

Washington Legal Aid Volunteer Opportunities

Eastside Legal Assistance Program

ELAP is responding to the evolving situation with COVID-19, and they need your help. They have an immediate need for volunteer attorneys to take phone consultations. To sign up, please use this brief form to let them know what days of the week and times of day you would be willing to help. They will promptly follow up.

QLAW Foundation

Our communities need assistance and support more than ever. Because of discrimination, LGBTQ+ people, and particularly queer and trans people of color, are much more likely to be unemployed, underemployed, working in the service industry being hit desperately hard by this crisis, unable to access healthcare safely, and to have a well-earned distrust of state and legal systems. QLAW Volunteer Opportunities.

Solid Ground Benefits Legal Assistance Program

The Solid Ground Benefits Legal Assistance Program helps people who need legal help with accessing public benefits including food, medical coverage, childcare and money. Anyone interested in volunteering with the Benefits Legal Assistance Program can contact Grete Schultz, managing attorney for the Solid Ground Benefits Legal Assistance team, at gretes@solid-ground.org or 206-694-6807. 

Spokane County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Program

The SCBA Volunteer Lawyers Program is seeking pro bono attorneys who can assist their clients by telephone. Generally clients are seeking advice on family law, consumer law, housing, wills, and guardianship issues. The VLP welcomes attorneys from outside of Spokane, too! Contact JVC@SpokaneBar.org to connect with a VLP client today. 

Tenant Law Center

As of this writing, the Tenant Law Center does not have an immediate need for volunteers, but it expects a rapid increase in client requests in the coming weeks, particularly after the April 17 sunset of Gov. Jay Inslee’s moratorium on residential evictions. Contact Directing Attorney Mark Chattin, 206-324-6890.

Unemployment Law Project

The Unemployment Law Project is preparing for a flood of unemployment benefit appeals and is in urgent need of both volunteer attorneys to represent claimants at phone hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings and non-attorney volunteers to help with intake interviews. Pro bono volunteers can contact Anne Paxton at apaxton@ulproject.org. Non-attorneys, please contact Hyun-Ji Lee at hlee@ulproject.org. We will respond with details about training and do our best to link volunteers as soon as possible with a claimant who may need advice or representation from a pro bono attorney or an intake interview by a non-attorney volunteer. Please see our website front page at UnemploymentLawProject.org for the COVID-19 special information page.

WSBA Pro Bono Opportunities

Visit the Pro Bono Portal, which can also be accessed via the WSBA’s Public Service and Pro Bono Opportunities page. The WSBA also maintains a list, by county, of Qualified Legal Service Providers dedicated to serving low income individuals and families.

National Legal Aid Volunteer Opportunities and Resources

National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center

Advocates interested in sharing resources and strategies are welcome to join a new COVID-19 Legal Response listserv available in the National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center. The Center also has information on COVID-19 legal response needs, resources and service delivery strategies identified in national calls of nonprofit legal aid, pro bono and other advocates. You can also view a Google Doc of COVID-19 Legal Response Resources.

Coronavirus-Related Legal Advocacy in Washington

Legal Foundation of Washington

LFW is a nonprofit organization created in 1984 at the direction of the Washington Supreme Court to distribute IOLTA funds to legal aid organizations across the state. Sign up for The Brief, a newsletter to keep you updated on the latest happenings in the civil legal aid community, and view past newsletters.

Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 

WACDL and other organizations request an emergency order from the Washington Supreme Court in response to COVID-19.

Washington Defender Association (WDA)

Advocating for release and other relief during COVID-19 health crisis: tools for release including motions, briefing and more: A resource page and clearing house for public defenders and other advocates working on COVID-19-related advocacy.

The Washington State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee is dedicated to implementing WSBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan. The committee's work promotes historically underrepresented groups to enter, remain, thrive, and lead in the profession of law. The committee does this through collaborative relationships and community building activities that highlight the numerous societal benefits of a diverse law profession.

Help advance WSBA's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.

We have positions open on the WSBA Diversity Committee, starting in October 2020. Read more about the position and apply today through your https://www.mywsba.org/ account.

The NEW Leadership Institute is a 6-day intensive program held in June, developed to encourage and equip students with the skills to seek new heights in their personal and professional lives. Examples of topics and workshops include community organizing & activism, politics & policy making, and salary negotiations. We are looking for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year program who are eager to be leaders in their communities. Washington students and out-of-state-students with Washington residency are eligible to apply.

The 2020 application can be found here (or by pasting bit.ly/2020NEWLeadUW into your browser).

If you need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, either by email at newlead@uw.edu or by phone at 206-543-9708. You may also visit our website for other program highlights, including Alumnae Success Stories and an FAQ page. Please feel free to pass along this information to any contacts you might have who might be interested in nominating emerging leaders.

Come join us on March 3, 2020 at 6pm at Foster Garvey for the Joint MBA 2020 Mentorship Kick-Off Event! Pre-registration required.

Generously sponsored by:

The Opportunity and Progress Counsel, Foster Garvey’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative

Hosted by:

• South Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABAW)

In partnership with:

• Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington (MELAW),
• Washington Attorneys with Disabilities Association (WADA), &
• Northwest Indian Bar Association (NIBA)

Lawyers, have you ever reached a point in your career and thought, "If only I had known...." Young lawyers and law students, have you ever wished you had advice from someone who has actually been there? Mentors meet mentees!

Our team of minority bar associations aims to pair law students and young lawyers from historically underrepresented groups with mentor attorneys from all walks of life, including allies, to support mentees as they prepare to enter and navigate their legal careers. For mentors and mentees alike, this is a fantastic opportunity to support one another, learn from one another, and meet the movers and shakers of our profession.

Please feel free to contact me at rania.rampersad@gmail.com for more information!

E. Rania Rampersad

SABAW President-Elect/Mentorship Co-Chair