On Wednesday, March 19, 2014, from 12:00-1:30pm, the WSBA Lawyer’s Assistance Program’s Bi-Monthly Career Management Series (formerly Bi-Monthly Job Seeker group) is proud to feature a unique panel presentation exploring the issue of racial diversity in the job-seeking context. Attorneys James Armstrong, Martha Sandoval, Omar Nur and Katrina Zafiro will be leading this discussion, the first in a series of panels focusing on dimensions of diversity for job seekers, whether at the beginning or mid-point of one’s legal career. Topics to be discussed in the upcoming panel presentation include examining barriers and how they may be overcome, as well as guidance for job seekers who are members of a racially diverse community. There is no cost for the presentation and registration is required; attendance is offered either in-person at the WSBA Conference Center or via webcast. To register, go to: https://www.mywsba.org/OnlineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=6543519&page=sem&mt=

INVITATION TO UW LAW ACADEMY- Friday, March 14 (UW School of Law)- MENTORS WELCOME!

You are cordially invited to participate in our first UW Law Academy!

Updated 3/5/14:  If you would like to have your profile shared with our high school participants, please send a response with the following information (feel free to attach a photo).  The agenda for the day is noted below.

Name:

Title/Office and/or area of practice:

High School:

College/University:

Law School:

Please answer at least one (or as many as you wish!) of the following questions:

1)      What was the greatest obstacle you faced pursuing your educational or legal career?

2)      Who or what experience inspired you to pursue a legal career?

3)      What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were in high school that could have helped you in deciding your career path?

4)      What advice would you give our high school students as they consider a higher education and potential legal career?

5)      Any books or resources you would recommend for inspiration/motivation, career guidance, or setting goals?

 

Thanks for your support of the UW Law Academy!

With the help of the UW Office of Minority Affairs, Rise UP/GEAR UP! and DiscoverLaw.org, the UW School of Law is inviting diverse high school students from around the State to spend the day at the law school. We hope to inspire students to really consider pursuing a legal education and career by introducing them to judges, attorneys, and law students; participating in a mock trial/street law program; and giving them an action plan on how to get from high school to law school.

WA State Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez will be our keynote speaker during the morning session. We need attorney/judge/law student volunteers to help make this a great experience for our high school guests. Please RSVP at ecc93@uw.edu as soon as possible. Let me know if you would like to attend the morning or afternoon session, either session +the luncheon, or stay with us for the entire day. Please feel free to forward the invitation to your colleagues (Walk-ins Welcome!).

If you would like to sponsor the program by bringing volunteer attorneys/judges/law students or by donating any amount, please let me know. Donations will be used to help with costs of student attendance and/or to purchase gift items for the student giveaway contests (i.e. UW Law t-shirts, etc.). We hope you will join us!

Sponsor levels (titles subject to change):

“Most awesome!”: $500 or more and/or 6-10 volunteers

“Awesome like the ‘80s!”: $250 or more and/or 3-5 volunteers

“We Rock!”: $100 and/or 1-3 volunteers

“We Rock too!”: any $$ amount, any kind of gift swag, and/or any number volunteers!!

Lawyers with Disabilities Celebration

Please join us and our friends with the Washington Attorneys with Disabilities Association as we gather to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Perkins Coie signing the ABA’s Pledge for Change regarding disability diversity in the legal profession. We’ll be enjoying good food and great company as clients, community leaders, and friends of the firm recognize the accomplishments and contributions of attorneys with disabilities.

Speakers will include Stuart Pixley (LCA), a Senior Attorney with Microsoft Corporation, a member of the ABA’s Commission on Disability Rights, and a board member of the Washington Attorneys with Disabilities Association, and Representative Cyrus Habib, Perkins Coie Community Liaison for the Puget Sound Region and state representative for the 48th District.

Thursday, March 13, 2014
Perkins Coie LLP
1201 3rd Ave, 49th Floor
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
6:15 p.m. – Speakers’ Remarks

RSVP Here.

Please contact Judah Travis at jtravis@perkinscoie.com with questions

Bridging the Gap - Friday, March 7th: https://www.kcba.org/cle/pdf/203-Brochure.pdf

Agenda

8:00-8:30 Registration and Coffee Service

8:30-9:30am Immigration Program, Greg McLawsen, Puget Sound Legal 9:30-10:30am Trust & Estates Program, Candace M. Wilkerson, Attorney at Law

Break

10:45-11:45am Transactional Program, Jennifer D. Shepherd, Russell Investments

Lunch Provided -- Sponsored by Principal Financial Group 11:45-12:15pm King County Bar Foundation, Joel Feldman, Development Manager, KCBF 12:15-12:45pm Exciting Pro Bono Opportunities, Threesa Milligan, Director, Pro Bono Services

12:45-1:45pm Primer on Trademark Law, Ronald Stern, Rimon Law 1:45-2:45pm Litigation, Aric Bomsztyk, Barokas Martin & Tomlinson

Break

3:00-4:00pm Solo Start-Up Program, Madhu Singh, MK Singh Law; Shashi Vijay. VJ Law Firm PLLC 4:00-5:00pm Ethics: Ethical Pitfalls of Using Social Media for Legal Marketing, Mary Przekop, Dearmin Fogarty PLLC

5:00pm Evaluations and Adjournment; Free Happy Hour at Rock Bottom!


Add your comments online: http://www.bigtent.com/group/forum/message/83955898?md=NzU0ODg4ODQ=

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

 

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

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

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.

 

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/

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 4^th 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