Updated: Sept. 24, 2019

The Diversity and Inclusion Program at the WSBA collaborates with other departments of the Bar, Minority Bar Associations and other stakeholders to create CLE, Town Hall, and other educational programs covering a wide range of important and under-discussed subjects with the common thread of diversity and inclusion. Recent past programming includes:

2018 Diversity and Inclusion Celebration

The Path Forward, 70 minutes

This session explores how the legal profession can advance diversity, equity and inclusion through multiple lenses. Participants will hear from legal professionals who work across various industries and practice settings. Session leaders will share current trends, best practices and tools which intersect with the practice of law; the session will discuss moving forward by creating the conditions necessary for strategic action, realistic implementation of equity initiatives and developing an inclusive culture in the corporate, court system, law firm setting and legal advocacy organization.

Faculty: Rima Alaily, Microsoft Corporation, Law and Corporate Affairs, Seattle; Michele Storms, Deputy Director ACLU WA, Seattle; Pallavi Wahi, K&L Gates LLP, Seattle; Justice Steven Gonzalez, Washington State Supreme Court, Olympia.

Diversity-Focused Legal Lunchbox™ Webinars

Diversity CLE Webinars

Best Practices for Working with Unaccompanied Minors, 55 minutes

There are a number of challenging issues facing unaccompanied minors. This webinar gives an overview of the reasons children arrive to the U.S. unaccompanied. Our presenters provide you with strategies to employ when building trust with unaccompanied minors and working with an interpreter.

Faculty: Aruna Sury, supervising attorney for pro bono programs, KIND, Seattle; Gillian Dutton, associate professor of lawyering skills, Seattle University

Credits: 1 other — Nexus Subject.

Mentoring for Diversity and Inclusion: The Role of Allies, 53 minutes

This program focuses on the role of both the mentor and mentee in improving the quality of practice of law through mentorship. Specifically, the webinar focuses on three main issues: accepting one’s bias, understanding the different types of mentorship relationships, and knowing the time commitment it takes to engage in such relationship.

Faculty: Laura Reed, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Spokane; Kristine Olmstead, Northwest Justice Project, Vancouver, WA

Credits: 1 Other — Improving the Legal System

Identifying and Responding to Bias and Microaggressions in the Practice of Law

In this session, learn how bias informs and intersects with the three types of microaggressions. Learn strategies to interrupt, recover from and manage the denial of the expression of bias as microaggressions. Exploration of practical steps individuals and institutions can take to address implicit bias and microaggressions as individuals, supervisors, employees and institutionally.

Faculty: KJ Williams, Diversity Programs Manager, Washington State Bar Association, Seattle, WA

Credits: 1.50 — Ethics

Beyond the Dialogue Townhall

Women, Race and Age Part 1: Mitigating Bias and Misogyny in the Legal Profession, recorded Sept. 13, 2016 | CLE credit not available

In part one of this Beyond the Dialogue Series, panelists representing a diverse array of experience and practice areas discussed current research relating to the experience of women in Washington State's legal profession. Panelists represent a diverse array of experience and areas of practice. Panelists offered suggestions and strategies for women, allies, and leaders who seek to address and mitigate incidences of bias and misogyny within the practice of law.

Panelists: Joy Williams (moderator), WSBA Diversity Program Manager; Elaine Edralin Pascua, Law Office of William J. O'Brien; Linda Fang, Banyan Legal Counsel, LLP; Onik'a I. Gilliam, Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch; WSBA President-Elect Robin Haynes, McNeice Wheeler, PLLC

Women, Race and Age Part 2: The Role of Allies, recorded June 8, 2017 | CLE credit not available.

In part two of this Beyond the Dailogue series, the WSBA Diversity Program partnered with Washington Women Lawyers for a panel discussion that extended the focus of part one beyond what women can do to respond to sexism, to addressing roles for making the legal profession a place for women to thrive regardless of races, age, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Panelists: Becca Glassgow (moderator), deputy solicitor general, Washington Women Lawyers President; WSBA President-Elect Brad Furlong; Pallavi Mehta Wahi, managing partner and chair of the firm-wide Diversity Committee at Seattle K&L Gates LLP; Bryan Russel, assistant attorney general; Joanna Plichta Boisen, summer associate hiring partner, pro bono member, and Chair of the Tax-exempt Organizations Group at Foster Pepper; with an introduction by former WSBA President Robin Haynes

Disability and Ableism in the Legal Profession, recorded Oct. 24, 2018 | CLE credit not available.

A panel of legal practitioners discussed the experience of disability and ableism through a variety of lenses.  Panelists shared their personal experiences of existing obstacles for legal professionals with disabilities, and suggestions for solutions, best practices and the knowledge important to making the legal profession inclusive for people of all abilities to enter, thrive, and lead.

Panelists: Conrad Reynoldson (moderator), VP and Founder, Washington Civil and Disability Advocate; Paula Littlewood, WSBA Executive Director; Lionel Galperin, Attorney, Solo Practice; Paige Hardy, President of the Korean American Bar Association; Jonathan Ko, Attorney, Washington Civil and Disability Advocate; Suchon Tuly, Senior Attorney, Marketing Legal, Microsoft Corporation

For more information contact: diversity@wsba.org

WSBA Diversity and Inclusion programs are supported by charitable donations to the Washington State Bar Foundation. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please visit the Foundation online or email foundation@wsba.org