Do you rely on help with childcare, housekeeping, yard work, and other domestic tasks? Do your clients? If so, join our panel of experienced practitioners as they explain:

• How to determine whether a household worker is an employee or an independent contractor
• How employers comply with their tax withholding and reporting obligations
• How to claim the Dependent Care Credit for the cost of domestic help
• How to comply with relevant immigration laws

• List Price: $195.00
• ABA Member Price: $150.00
• Sponsor Member Price: $95.

Like all employers, household employers must comply with immigration laws, and the penalties for violations are onerous. This program will explain a household employer’s legal obligations and will describe practical strategies to comply with the law and to deal with inadvertent violations.

http://shop.americanbar.org/ebus/ABAEventsCalendar/EventDetails.aspx?productId=188412096

The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Western District of Washington is always seeking Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) for its Seattle and Tacoma offices.  We value diversity and we know the USAO is stronger, more credible, and more effective when our workforce reflects the many backgrounds, cultures, and traditions of the communities we serve.

To this end, we are reaching out to the various minority bar associations and law school minority organizations to offer a panel discussion for your members interested in learning about our office, the work we do, our hiring process, and what qualities we seek in AUSAs.

The panel will be held on May 20, 2015, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on the 19th floor of the U.S. District Courthouse.  In addition to the U.S. Attorney, Annette L. Hayes, the panel will include two distinguished alumni of the office: U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones, and Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steven C. González.  Participants will also have an opportunity to meet and talk with members of the USAO’s hiring committee and current AUSAs.

We ask that attendees RSVP by May 18 using this link.

Have you thought about becoming an Administrative Law Judge?  The Office of Administrative Hearings and the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals bring you the “Administrative Law Judge Information Session”.  Topics covered will include information about who are currently serving as Administrative Law Judges, how they are appointed, the work they do, and the benefits of being an Administrative Law Judge.  The information session is on May 1^st from noon – 1 p.m. at the WSBA offices (1325 Fourth Ave, Ste. 600, Seattle 98101). Want more information but can’t make it? There’s a teleconference option available as well.

RSVP and questions can be sent to diversity@wsba.org.

 Oregon Women Lawyers

Celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta with a trip to England  and CLE  from Monday, September 7, to Monday, September 14, 2015. Although the program is designed for women in the legal profession, men and non-lawyers are most welcome to join us, too.  For all the details http://www.oregonwomenlawyers.org/participate/owls-england-september-7-14-2015/

The Washington State Bar Association Council on Public Defense (CPD) has two openings for attorneys in private practice to each serve two year terms.  While experience with criminal defense work is helpful the attorney need not have practiced as a public defender. The CPD is a 23 member body that includes representatives from the Washington Supreme Court, the superior courts and the district courts, representatives of local governments as well as public defender attorneys, attorneys in private practice and members of the public.  The CPD has developed standards for indigent defense services that have been approved by the Board of Governors and adopted by the Supreme Court.  The CPD’s work plan for the next 18 months includes work on standards for attorneys representing juveniles charged with offenses and a summit on the mentally ill in the criminal justice system.

The application deadline is this Thursday, April 30, 2015.  WSBA staff ask that applications be submitted by noon.  Anyone interested in the position can get more information by writing directly to Bonnie Sterken, staff to the CPD, at bonnies@wsba.org.

 African American and Latina female professionals in law, medicine, catering, design, architecture, government, and/or trades are being sought to come to Career Day (April 25) and share their experiences with Y-WE women. Could you kindly forward this to any woman who might help young women of color achieve their career goals?

Career day will feature women professionals to inspire the Young Women Empowered (Y-WE) women to define and attain their career goals. They already have plenty of folks in the social sector, business, research, arts. Could you kindly reach out to your networks and ask those who can help to contact Victoria Santos, Y-WE program manager at Victoria@y-we.org.

For more info about Y-WE please check it out here
(http://youngwomenempowered.org/)

The Washington State Bar Association seeks members of the public to serve on three boards and one council for terms beginning October 1, 2015. 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. Applications are being accepted through May 1.

This year the WSBA will appoint (or, in some cases, recommend to the state Supreme Court) Community Representatives to the following boards:  

·         Character and Fitness Board

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. Appointment is for a three-year term.

·         Council on Public Defense

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

·         Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection Board

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 

The 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 soon. Appointment is for a three-year term.

If you would like to be considered for any of these openings, please complete the application by following the instructions posted here: http://tinyurl.com/WSBACommMem. Previous applicants should re-apply as applications expire after one year.

For further information about each board, contact the staff liaison listed on the web page linked to above. If you have questions about the application process, email barleaders@wsba.org or call Pam Inglesby at 206-727-8226.

 Volunteer Coordinator needed for innovative legal clinic to recruit and schedule lawyer volunteers.  The Reach Enumclaw legal clinic needs a lawyer, law student, or legal staff for no more than 2  hours per month who can work from office or home to recruit and schedule lawyer volunteers for the computer (Skype) assisted legal clinic. Clients in South King County go to the Enumclaw Library to confer with licensed attorneys by videoconference (SKYPE) or phone.   The attorneys can be at the physical location of their choice.  The clinic is held twice a month for two hours. The Clinic is supported by The King County Library System, Seattle University Law School Access to Justice Institute, Plateau Outreach Ministries, and the Cardozo Society. Lawyer volunteers are also needed for client counseling. Contact Barbara Frost, 206 954 3042 or bsfrost@gmail.com

 How will your women’s bar celebrate Law Day, May 1? This year’s Law Day theme is “Magna Carta: Icon of Liberty.” The ABA Division for Public Education has gathered resources to help make the Magna Carta accessible to everyone: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/initiatives_awards/lawday_2015.html  Free Law Day Toolkits for teachers are available from the site.