WSBA provides free and low-cost CLE courses to support onboarding new members into the profession. The following are seminars specifically designed for members who have been admitted for less than 10 years, regardless of admittance date in another jurisdiction.
Financial Focus
Developed in partnership with the Washington New Members Committee, the Financial Focus CLE program centers on financial topics that are relevant to new practitioners. This program is free to new members.
The 2026 Financial Focus CLE will take place in September 2026. Please check back soon for updates.
Financial Focus: The Risky Business of Cyber, Premises Liability, & Malpractice Insurance (September 2025)
Financial Focus: Student Loans and Timekeeping 101 (September 2024)
Trial Advocacy Program
The annual WSBA Trial Advocacy Program (TAP) offers a two-day CLE on trial skills, followed by a mock trial. This seminar is suitable for attorneys with little or no trial experience in either criminal or civil law. Participants can choose to attend the two-day CLE only, or both the CLE and the mock trial.
The two-day CLE will be held on April 1 & 2, 2027 both online and in person at the WSBA office in Seattle. The CLE will cover the full cycle of a jury trial, including voir dire, objections, direct and cross examination, presenting evidence, and closing arguments. A catered lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
A mock trial will follow on Saturday, April 24, 2027 at the WSBA office, providing a chance to practice skills learned during the CLE and receive feedback from volunteer judges.
Registration will open in early 2027.
You can view past Trial Advocacy Programs on-demand at the links below. We invite new speakers every year, so each program is unique.
Practice Primers
The WSBA Practice Primer takes a substantive area of law and develops a series of learning tracks that build upon one another. Completion of all three learning tracks (usually three sessions within a track) will provide attendees with a solid educational foundation and primer for practice.
We currently have on-demand Practice Primer seminars covering Employment Law, Business Law, Estate Planning, and Criminal Law.
The 2027 Practice Primer is scheduled for January through March 2027, and the tentative topic is Indian Law. Check back in fall for updates.
Online Products — New Member Seminars
These products and materials emphasize building a strong foundation in practice management, relationship building, interpersonal communications, work-life balance, ethics, and professionalism.
Get Involved!
Interested in helping WSBA develop seminars geared towards new members?
Email us at NewMembers@wsba.org.
