NW Lawyer - April/May 2017

substantive areas of law. This initial launch will focus on trusts and estates and will be partially released in September. The program will include nine two-hour seminars that build off each other and cover the foundations of practice, progressing to intermediate and advanced topics. This programming would not succeed without a tremendous partnership between staff and volunteers. The six volunteers on this team will be working with our CLE staff for up to eight months developing the curriculum, recruiting faculty, and serving as faculty themselves.

Over lunch on Thursday, the Pro Bono and Public Service Committee met to discuss their efforts to enhance a culture of service and encourage members to engage in pro bono and public service. This committee is one of 10 committees that report to the BOG. While some committees focus on young lawyers, others focus on legislative or professional ethics issues. All of our committees are critical to the ongoing vitality of the organization and profession.

On Thursday we also launched our first educational forum in our new Decoding the Law series. This project is designed to seed conversations among members and the public on timely legal topics. Our first topic was the Death Penalty in Washington State. Our volunteer presenters, Mark Larrañaga, Mary Pat Treuthart, and Mark Larson did a fantastic job outlining the landscape and the issues in this first forum. If you missed any or all of the three-part series, you can find it online at http:// www.wsba.org/News-and-Events/Decoding-the-Law.

Fridays are often busy meeting days at WSBA and this one was no exception, with all day meetings of the Disciplinary Board and the Law Clerk Board. As an agency of the Washington Supreme Court, the WSBA administers and supports six Supreme Court-created boards, like the Disciplinary Board, and four other boards created by Court Rule, like the Law Clerk Board. These boards regularly consider matters that are related to the regulation and discipline of Washington’s lawyers, Limited License Legal Technicians, Limited Practice Officers, and others like Rule 9 interns, as well as assist with regulatory determinations related to those who want to become licensed to practice law in Washington. Although these boards are administered by WSBA, many of them make direct reports and recommendations to the Supreme Court.

THE WSBA’S MISSION IS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BAR, TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND TO CHAMPION JUSTICE.

Of course, highlighting one week merely scratches the surface on the various and diverse roles our volunteers play, working alongside our staff to fulfill our mission. None of any week’s activities, efforts and impact would be possible without the countless hours, talent, and dedication of our volunteers. The theme for National Volunteer Week is “Service Unites.” This theme captures the power of change-makers to come together to build stronger, more vibrant communities through service. WSBA is fortunate to have such a committed membership step up to serve and make a difference in the legal community and for the public. NWL