Small Town and Rural Practice Committee
The WSBA Small Town and Rural Practice — STAR — Committee is committed to strengthen and support the practice of law in the rural communities throughout Washington state. Members of the STAR Committee will work to ensure that the practice of law in rural communities is present, growing, and thriving.
Practitioners in rural communities are few and far between. Additionally, many of these practitioners are nearing retirement without a clear plan of succession for their clients, leaving a void of access to legal representation and counsel. The STAR Committee members will guide policy and program development, serve as ambassadors between the WSBA and these communities, explore and advocate for creative and innovative solutions, and regularly assess the legal landscape in rural communities to determine if WSBA policy, advocacy, and program development require further resource for sustainability and improvements. To learn more about the STAR Committee's purpose, composition, scope of work, and roles, review the STAR Committee Charter.
The formation of the STAR Committee is the result of work conducted by the Rural Practice Project.
Meet the STAR Committee Members
2022-2023
Kari Petrasek, Chair Sunitha Anjilvel, Board of Governors Member Hunter Abell Board of Governors Member
Allison Foreman, At-large Member Rusty McGuire, Rural Member Kathryn Burke, Rural Member Sarah Cuellar, Rural Member Elizabeth Penoyar, Rural Member | Merf Ehman, Qualified Legal Service Provider Member Zachary Bryant, Young Lawyer Member Laurie Powers, Gonzaga University School of Law Member Erin Fullner, Seattle University School of Law Member Erin Lloyd, University of Washington School of Law Member
Mary Rathbone, Board of Governors Liaison Sunitha Anjilvel, Board of Governors Liaison Julianne Unite, Staff Liaison |
For questions, please email Committee Chair Kari Petrasek or staff liaison Julianne Unite.
Meetings
Next Meeting
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Washington State Bar Association, that a Small Town and Rural Committee meeting will be held on:
Date: June 22, 2023 │ Time: 12:30 p.m. │ Location: Virtual via Zoom
Meeting ID: 879 0573 6111 │ Passcode: 811616
The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to discuss, deliberate, and take potential final action regarding the following agenda items (no final disposition regarding any matter will occur at the meeting except as indicated on this notice):
AGENDA:
Please check back for meeting materials.
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please email julianneu@wsba.org.
Note: Discussion and action may be taken on any item on the agenda. The time and order of agenda items are subject to change at the discretion of the committee chair.
Upcoming Events:
RURAL PRACTICE: Small Towns, Big Opportunities, Virtual Hiring Event — March 31, 2023
Open to Washington State legal employers with offices more than 40 miles from Spokane, Seattle/Tacoma, or Vancouver/Portland urban areas. Employers may recruit for both law students and attorneys through this free event! The event is hosted by Gonzaga University School of Law, in partnership with the WSBA Small Town & Rural Practice Committee, Seattle University School of Law, and University of Washington School of Law. There is no cost to register.
Employers: More information and registration
Job Seekers: Job Seeker Registration Instructions
Past Meeting Materials & Minutes
FY 2023 January 2023 | FY 2022 October 2021 |
