Welcome New Governors!
Congratulations on your election to the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to serve the Bar and its mission to serve the public and the members of the Bar, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.
WSBA operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state’s nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals. In furtherance of its obligation to protect and serve the public, the WSBA both regulates lawyers and other legal professionals and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding.
As a regulatory agency, the WSBA administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; and administers the professional discipline system. As a professional association, the WSBA also provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member-services and opportunities to advance professionally.
Governors Manual
The below information has been created and curated for members of the WSBA Board of Governors. This web-format manual is particularly helpful for new governors but may be used as a valuable resource for all Governors throughout their service.
Information below will be updated throughout the year. If you think something should be included, please contact Shelly Bynum (see Key Contacts document below). More Information can also be found by visiting the Volunteer Toolbox.
On this Page
Introduction to WSBA
- Volunteer's Introduction to the WSBA (video)
- Quick Overview of WSBA: Working Together to Champion Justice
- History of the WSBA
- WSBA Mission Statement, Guiding Principles & Strategic Goals (2016)
- WSBA Strategic Goals (2008-present)
- GR 12
- WSBA Bylaws
- Selected Law regarding WSBA (1933 on)
The Role of the Board of Governors
- WSBA President's Thoughts on: 10 Tips to Being Effective
- Board of Governors Core Role to Add Value
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Governor Responsibilities
- Addendum to Governor Responsibilities
Board of Governors: Authority and Responsibility
- WSBA Values (2016)
- Conflict Resolution Practices & Policy
- WSBA's Guiding Communication Principles (2016)
- WSBA Memo & Harassment Prevention Policy (December 2019)
- WSBA No Retaliation Policy (January 2019)
- Budget & Audit Committee
- WSBA Culture of Inclusion Philosophy
- WSBA Diversity and Inclusion Plan
- WSBA Legislation Request Process
- WSBA Legislative Road Map (2019)
- Legislation and Court Rule Comment Policy ( 2015)
- WSBA Sections Legislative Comment Policy (June 2020)
- Washington Race Equity & Justice Initiative (REJI) Commitments
- 2018-2020 State Plan for Coordinated Delivery of Civil Legal Aid to Low-Income People
- Alliance for Equal Justice - WSBA is a member of the Alliance
Board Mechanics
- 2020-2021 Board of Governors Meeting Schedule
- Board of Governors Public Roster (2021)
- Board of Governors Past Meeting Minutes & Materials
- WSBA Fiscal Policies and Procedures Manual October 2019
- Expense Policies
- WSBA Expense Report Form (2021)
- WSBA Entities Chart
- Overview of Committees, Board Panels, 2020-2021
- WSBA Entity Chairs and Liaisons - Roles and Responsibilities
- WSBA Outside Appointments and Nominations
- MBA, Specialty & County Bars
WSBA & Department Overviews
- WSBA Staff Key Contacts (February 2021)
- WSBA Demographics (always updated on this page)
- WSBA Acronyms (2020)
- WSBA Functional Organization Chart & Executive Management Structure
- Advancement Department Overview (ADV)
- Section Profiles 2021
- Communications & Outreach Department Overview (COMM)
- Office of Disciplinary Counsel Department Overview (ODC)
- Discipline System Overview
- The Discipline System - Selected Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct (ELC) (2018)
- Discipline System (flow chart)
- Office of the Executive Director Department Overview (OED)
- Administration & Finance Department Department Overview (ADMIN)
- Washington State Bar Foundation Department Overview
- Office of the General Counsel Department Overview (OGC)
- Human Resources Overview (HR)
- Information Technology Department Overview (IT)
- Regulatory Services Department Overview (RSD)
- WSBA Organizational Context Chart (January 2020)
