The Washington Supreme Court’s Interpreter Commission is seeking a public member representative. The Commission is seeking an individual with a working knowledge of language access policies and services for people who are limited-English speakers as well as those who rely on American Sign Language interpreter services.

Please see the attached letter for additional information about the Commission and details about how to apply.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me or Robert Lichtenberg, Senior Court Program Analyst to the Interpreter Commission, at Robert.Lichtenberg@courts.wa.gov.

Join us on Thursday, February 17th @ 5:00 pm for our virtual event Breaking Barriers:The Rise of Black Women’s Leadership in Washington. In celebration of Black History Month, we are very pleased to announce that US Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland will join us for a keynote address followed by a panel discussion with black female state and local leaders moderated by Former State Representative, Kristine Reeves. Join us as we listen to these distinguished leaders and learn more about the historical rise of black women leaders in our state and how we can help ensure that their leadership and voices are included at every level of politics and society. When: Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 5:00-6:00 pm Where: Online via Zoom Register Here

This year, the ABA's 2022 Virtual Midyear Meeting will be held from February 9, 2022 to February 14, 2022. The National Conference of Women's Bar Associations will be hosting its annual midyear program, Reconnecting With The Workplace, on February 11, 2022.

This theme encompasses both the ways that things have changed as we return to the ‘new’ normal, but also the opportunities to address improvements in the legal workplace post health crisis. This program is offered remotely with Co-Sponsorship by Law Practice Division of the ABA. The NCWBA Reconnecting with the Workplace program will start with framing the impact of COVID-19, especially as it has impacted women and underrepresented lawyers, followed by a facilitated panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities as employers consider long-term employment adjustments in the wake of the pandemic. Panelists will present how they are addressing the impacts they have experienced in their practice setting (in-house, firm, government, industry) and how they have addressed them.

For more information on this event and to register, please see below. If you would like more information and to register for the ABA Midyear Meeting, please click here.

“The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is now accepting nominations for the 32nd Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards!  The nomination portal can be accessed from www.aba.smapply.io

For more information regarding the award and the nomination criteria, please visit ambar.org/brentawards.  Nominations close at 5:00 P.M. CST on January 21^st, 2022.

The Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers. Each year, the Commission honors up to five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence within their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for other women lawyers.

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Laura Tannous at Laura.Tannous@americanbar.org.”

The Korean American Bar Association of Washington (KABA) is pleased and happy to announce it will be offering three scholarships ($3,000 and $5,000) to law students for 2022. All law students regardless of any affiliation with KABA are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Friday January 14, 2021. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.kaba-washington.org/law-students/scholarship/.  

If you have any questions regarding the scholarship program, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Scholarship Committee at kabawascholarships@gmail.com. Thank you!

The Joint Minority Mentorship Program (JMMP) is recruiting Board members for 2022!

Apply here by Friday, November 19th.

The program has grown so much from its start just 3 years ago.  Back then we had just two partner organizations, 25 participants, and one kick-off event.  This past year, we grew to 10 partner organizations, 125 participants, and several follow-up events, including our extremely well-attended two-day Workshop on Starting Your Own Law Firm.

If you believe passionately in the value of mentorship, of creating a pipeline to diversifying leadership in our profession, of lifting up law students and young lawyers from historically under-represented backgrounds, this is the place for you!  We need Board members to organize volunteers, manage registrations, and plan events to keep this program going.  

Austin Jenkins interviewed Chief Justice Steven González for the Inside Olympia program. Chief Justice González spoke about the 2021 Gender Justice Study for several minutes during the interview (shortly after the 26-minute mark). 

You may view the full video on the TVW website: watch – TVW, Washington State's Public Affairs Network

The Washington State Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission currently has open membership positions and invites interested people to apply by November 30^th.

The Gender and Justice Commission was established following the publication of “Gender and Justice in the Courts” in 1989, and its mission is to:

·        Identify concerns and make recommendations regarding the equal treatment of all parties, attorneys, and court employees in the State courts, and

·        Promote gender equality through researching, recommending, and supporting the implementation of best practices; providing educational programs that enhance equal treatment of all parties; and serving as a liaison between the courts and other organizations in working toward communities free of bias.

In September, the Commission published 2021: How Gender and Race Affect Justice Now, a groundbreaking new study on how gender and race impact justice, and the intersection of gender and other identities and experiences (e.g., LGBTQ+, poverty). The recommendations from this study will help guide the Commission’s work in the coming years, and we are looking for new members who want to join that exciting work!

To Apply:

Please send a letter of interest and resume to commissions@courts.wa.gov for consideration by the Commission Co-Chairs and Nominations Committee. If there are specific issues that you are interested in working on with the Commission, please reference that in your materials.

We are excited to announce that the application for the Judicial Institute's Fellows Clinic is now open. The Judicial Institute is committed to the diversification of Washington's courts. *Please share widely with your minority bar associations so we can ensure a more accessible path to the judiciary. *

We hope many of your members will consider applying.

About the Clinic:
Fellows will participate in two-day in-person interactive sessions at Seattle University School of Law on March 13-14, 2022, designed to provide practical knowledge to help legal professionals from a variety of backgrounds become judges.  Taught by instructors who are judges, minority bar judicial evaluation committee members, and appointing authorities, the clinic will address topics including judicial ethics, the judicial appointment process, and preparing for a judicial campaign. We will be following SU's public health protocols for the in-person clinic.

In addition, Fellows will be assigned judicial mentors who will provide one-on-one feedback and guidance. At the end of the program, Fellows should have the skills and information to begin seeking a position on the bench. Fellows will also receive general and ethics CLE credits.

Application Process:
Interested applicants with eight years or more of legal experience should submit a letter of interest, resume, and an application. The application materials are due November 15, 2021 and available HERE.

Questions? Please email us at info@judicialinstitute.org

Join CWD on Thursday, October 21st @ 5:00 pm as we host a panel of formerly incarcerated women as they share with us the challenges they faced rebuilding their lives. These challenges impact how they continue their education, find employment, and rebuild relationships with their families and friends.

These courageous women are using their experiences to advocate for laws, policies, and programs that expand access to resources and opportunities for formerly incarcerated women to build a new future for themselves, their families and communities. Join us to learn how you can support this work.

Register today to reserve your spot.