WSBA Volunteer Opportunities

The Washington State Bar Association is now recruiting volunteers to help advance the legal profession in two different ways:

Committee service
We will soon fill openings on 22 committees, boards and panels ranging from the Judicial Recommendation Committee to the Disciplinary Board. Most positions have two- or three-year terms, start on Oct. 1, and are open only to active WSBA members. There are exceptions, though, so please take a look at the application in myWSBA to determine your eligibility and learn more about these opportunities. Committee service gives you a chance to contribute to the legal community and to get involved with issues you care about. It’s also a great way to connect with other lawyers around the state. The application deadline is Feb. 27, 2015. For more information, email barleaders@wsba.org, or call Pam Inglesby, WSBA communications services operations manager, at 206-727-8226 or 800-945-9722, ext. 8226.

Promoting professionalism
If you are interested in volunteering in a more task-specific way, consider participating in our new professionalism volunteer initiative. Opportunities include making professionalism presentations to law students, writing about professionalism for the WSBA’s magazine, NWLawyer and the blog, NWSidebar, leading professionalism discussions at bar association events, recognizing professionalism in the legal community, and reviewing the Creed of Professionalism. Find more information here. Both WSBA members and others in the legal community are welcome to apply. The application deadline is March 31, 2015.

Clerkship Kickoff Meeting

If you're interested in a post-graduate judicial clerkship, be sure to attend one of the mandatory clerkship information sessions on March 5.

• March 5 at noon in room 309
• March 5 at 5:00 p.m. in room 327

State appellate and federal clerkships generally require applications a year or more in advance, so if you'd like to clerk in the fall of 2016, be sure to attend one of these meetings and plan to send applications this spring and summer. Most candidates will want to start applying as 2Ls.

State superior courts generally do not hire as far in advance, so 3L year is a good time to apply for those positions.

CPD runs a judicial clerkship program to help you create competitive application materials. In order to participate in the program, you must attend the kickoff meeting, where the judicial clerkship handbook will be distributed. If you have a class, externship, or work conflict, please contact Erin Fullner, we may be able to schedule a make-up session for those unable to attend one of the sessions.

Spring OCI

From Tuesday, March 10 through Friday, March 13, CPD will host a Spring On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Session, which will feature more than a dozen small and mid-size firms such as Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness, Pfau Cochran, Ahlers & Cressman, and Schlemlein Goetz Fick & Scruggs. There are spring and summer law clerk positions available as well as a few post-graduate opportunities. Deadline to apply is Monday, March 2.   

In addition to interviews, CPD will host an informal networking event on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:00 pm on the 2nd Floor Gallery open to all students, participating Spring OCI employers, and other small and mid-size firms. The networking event will provide students with a great opportunity to connect with attorneys. Student registration will begin on February 19. Stay tuned for more information.

Spring OCI Info Session

CPD will host a Spring On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) Information Session on Thursday, February 19 at 12:00 pm in Room C1. This session will provide information about the upcoming OCI program and how to apply for summer law clerk and post-graduate opportunities. There are small and mid-size firm positions available, so please review the OCI information on Symplicity, which will be open for student viewing on February 19.  

CPD Mock Interview Program

We still have available time slots in both sessions!

Please RSVP to reserve a spot for the upcoming Mock Interview Program, where you will be paired with an alumni practitioner for a practice interview to help you get ready for Spring OCI, other upcoming interviews, and to develop your interviewing skills. The program will take place on Saturday, February 28 from 10 am to 1 pm, and Wednesday, March 4 from 5 pm to 8 pm. Please send your RSVP to Junsen Ohno.

WSBA Lawyer Directory

The WSBA Lawyer Directory allows you to search attorneys by name, location, or practice area. Don't forget about this useful tool when working on expanding your network.