Equity and Justice

The mission of the WSBA is to serve the public and members of the Bar, to ensure integrity of the profession and to champion justice. Guided by the mission and under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court as outlined in General Rule 12.2(a)(6), the WSBA has the responsibility “to promote diversity and equality in the courts and the legal profession.

Equity and Justice Action Plan

Adopted by the Board of Governors in 2025, the Equity and Justice Action Plan is built on comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data reflecting members’ demographics and experiences and lays out three goals: 1) Strengthen the legal profession by building community and fostering belonging; 2) Advance a fair, inclusive, effective, and accessible legal system for all people; and 30 Deepen and broaden WSBA leaders’ commitment to addressing inclusion, belonging and equity issues.

Membership Study

In 2024, a Membership Study was conducted to understand the makeup and experiences of legal professionals in Washington. The data from the Study informed the Equity and Justice Plan.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council

The purpose of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council is to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and legal system and address the problems of bias, systemic inequities and underrepresentation in the legal profession. The DEI Council comprises of four members of the Board of Governors and 14 members of the WSBA and public.

Affinity Bar Associations

The WSBA maintains an Affinity Bar Associations webpage as a service to legal professionals and the public to find information about an affinity bar association they may be interested in.

Washington State Bar Foundation

The Washington State Bar Foundation helps fund WSBA equity and justice programs that address unmet egal needs like through the Powerful Communities Project; ensuring the legal profession reflects the communities it serves and supports all members. Learn more about the Foundation online here or email foundation@wsba.org.