Connect with Peers and Practitioners through WSBA's 29 Sections
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Sections members become part of active professional communities and gain access to an array of exclusive section member benefits. Over 10,000 WSBA members currently belong to one or more of the WSBA’s 29 sections. The section membership year begins Jan. 1.
Member Benefits
In the past year, WSBA Sections have sponsored approximately 70 CLE seminars and hosted multiple professional networking events around the state. Various sections offer a plethora of member benefits, including, but not limited to:
- List serve communities
- Newsletters, reports, deskbooks, and sourcebooks
- Free and discounted CLEs
- Opportunities to engage in the Washington state legislative process
...and more! Join a Section Today!
Interested in Section Leadership?
Each section is led by a group of volunteers who are elected to serve on the executive committee. Many find leading a section to be a rewarding experience because of the leadership growth, professional development, firsthand experience with the legislative
process, and collegiality it offers. Executive committee discussions are productive and challenging, offering a unique opportunity to work with other legal professionals in a goal-oriented setting that benefits WSBA members and the greater legal community.
Executive committee terms begin Oct. 1, 2023, and sections accept applications for the following year in early spring. Consider applying to become a section leader!
For general sections questions, send an email with your Bar number to sections@wsba.org or call 800-945-9722.
WSBA Sections
Administrative Law Section
The Administrative Law Section serves the interests of public and private sector attorneys who work with state and local government agencies, as well as administrative law judges, hearing officers, review officers, and other judicial personnel.
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The Administrative Law Section offers many resources and benefits for members. On this page you will find information about the section, their upcoming events and offerings, as well as information about the section's executive committee.
Upcoming Programs
Executive Committee Elections
Election season is here and it's almost time to vote for your next executive committee. Head over to the Election page to see a timeline of when voting happens and instructions on how to make sure you will receive your ballot via email.
If you have any questions, please email sections@wsba.org.
NEW In-Person Seminar! Access to Justice: Accommodations in Administrative Hearings
Developed in partnership with the WSBA Administrative Law Section
Attendees will learn the basics of public hearing accommodation law and examples of accommodations to address the needs of disabled people during administrative hearings.
When: May 10, 2024
Time: 2:30–4:30 p.m. PST
Where: Alderbrook Resort & Spa; 10 E. Alderbrook Drive, Union, WA 98592-9426
Credits: 2.00 Law & legal Procedure
NEW Webinar! Presenting an Unemployment Insurance Case
Developed in partnership with the WSBA Administrative Law Section
The Office of Administrative Hearings conducts thousands of administrative hearings every year on its Unemployment insurance caseload. Most participants rely on lay representatives. The Unemployment Law Project provides attorneys for a select few beneficiaries. The need for professional advocates far exceeds the supply.
As a high volume caseload in a discrete area of law under the Administrative Procedure Act, unemployment insurance advocacy is a great point of entry to administrative law advocacy.
This training will prepare you to represent parties effectively in an unemployment insurance hearing.
When: May 16, 2024
Time: Noon–1 p.m. PDT
Credits: 1.00 Law & Legal Procedure
Section Information
The Administrative Law Section is involved in all areas of administrative law of interest to Washington lawyers, including Washington State administrative law, federal administrative law, tribal administrative law, and interstate compact administrative law. We recognize that most attorneys in Washington practice some type of administrative law, even if they never directly apply the Washington Administrative Procedure Act. We have written (and regularly update) an administrative law practice manual (an online publication), and the Public Records Act Deskbook. You can order these publications under the “Resources & Deskbooks” section below. View the free publication, Ensuring Equal Access for People with Disabilities — A Guide for Washington Administrative Proceedings (2011).
The section welcomes anyone as a member who has an interest in administrative law. Upon payment of annual dues of only $25, active members of the WSBA may be voting members of the section and anyone else may be a non-voting member of the section and receive section benefits. Our members include:
- Assistant attorneys general
- Administrative adjudicators and individuals who represent private parties or agencies in administrative hearings
- Public agency in-house attorneys
- City attorneys (on private contract as well as municipal employees)
- County prosecutors
- Private practitioners who either contract to represent government entities or represent clients subject to government regulation
- Judicial officials
Benefits of Membership
- Reduced tuition at high-quality section CLEs (at least two per year)
- Three newsletters per year, including summaries of recent administrative law state and federal cases, articles and announcements
- Annual meeting with good food and other special events
- Input into legislative and WSBA proposals as the recognized experts in administrative law
- Contributions to projects benefiting access to justice efforts
- Networking and support in the field of administrative law
Law Students Welcome
The Administrative Law Section welcomes law students! If you are enrolled in law school, join the section as a law student member. Meet lawyers who practice administrative law. Help prepare your own career in administrative law.
New Mentorship Program
Administrative Law Section Mentorship Program Flyer
The Administrative Law Section is pleased to announce that the application window for the 2023-2024 Mentorship Program is now open. Attorneys who are members of the Admin Law Section are invited to apply as either a mentor or a mentee for this 12-month program that requires a commitment of at least two hours per month for which you can obtain CLE credit. The Mentorship Program is a wonderful way to develop lasting relationships one-on-one and to share your knowledge base through an established curriculum that can be modified to fit you and your assigned partner's specific goals. We encourage mentors and mentees to apply. Please complete the application at the below link and return it to alexis@dynamiclawgroup.com by April 30. The Program commences May 15.
State of Washington Job Opportunities
Administrative Appeals Judge / Exempt
The State of Washington careers website has posted an Administrative Appeals Judge position on their website. Click the link above to view the position or apply now.
CLE Recordings
Webinar: Hot Topic: The Corporate Transparency Act
Faculty will discuss preparing for the new beneficial ownership reporting requirements of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the Corporate Transparency Act which become effective on Jan. 1, 2024, and apply to all privately held US companies.
Faculty:
Joshua Bam, Gravis Law, PLLC, Richland, WA
Watch the Video (one hour)
This video is not accredited for CLE credit and is available for viewing for up to one year after the live event date (Jan. 12, 2024)
Webinar: Health Professions Discipline Process and Defense Strategies
Learn about health care professional discipline from an enforcement perspective and a defense perspective. We will review the process from start to finish and discuss defense strategies for each phase, from investigation through hearing and appeal. Steve will share how his litigation strategy for these administrative proceedings differs from medical malpractice defense.
Faculty:
Richelle Little, Washington State Office of the Attorney General, Olympia
Stephen M. Lamberson, Etter, McMahon, Lamberson, Van Wert & Oreskovich, P.C., Spokane
Listen to the Audio (one hour, 44 minutes)
This audio is not accredited for CLE credit and is available for viewing for up to one year after the live event date (Aug. 2, 2023).
Webinar: Boundary Violations by Health Care Professionals
Dr. Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, will discuss legal and ethical issues involved in boundary violations committed by health care professionals. This is of interest to any attorney involved in professional licensure defense or malpractice.
Faculty: Dr. Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, University of Washington, Seattle
Listen to the Audio (one hour)
This audio is not accredited for CLE credit and is available for viewing for up to one year after the live event date (June 28, 2023).
The Frank Homan Award
Congratulations to Johnette Sullivan, our 2023 Homan Award recipient!
The Frank Homan Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the improvement or application
of administrative law.
Only Administrative Law Section members can nominate, but a nominee does not have to be an attorney or a section member.
The award is named for Frank Homan, a dedicated teacher and mentor who was passionate about improving the law. After receiving his law degree from Cleveland State University of Law in 1965, he began practicing in Washington in 1968, serving as an Employment Security Department hearings examiner from 1970 to 1974 and as a senior administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings from 1975 to 1993. He continued to serve as an ALJ pro tem after his retirement in 1993. He was an early proponent for the creation of a central hearings panel, and played an important role in the creation of the Office of Administrative Hearings (RCW 34.12).
Frank was generous with his time and expertise and is well-remembered for his sense of humor, his command of the English language, and his writing style — including his knowledge of legal terminology and history. His commitment to promoting justice for all and the practice of administrative law is the inspiration for the award that bears his name.
Prior Recipients
2022 – Larry Berg | 2013 – Alan D. Copsey |
Section Newsletter
Archived issues are available to section members upon request. To request an issue, please email sections@wsba.org.
Resources & Deskbooks
Public Records Act Deskbook (order online)
Washington Administrative Law Practice Manual (eBook) (order online)
Administrative Hearing Procedure Index
Washington state agencies, boards and commissions
Executive Committee
Chair: Ed Pesik (2023-2024) Chair-Elect: Susan Dumph (2023-2024) Immediate Past Chair: Lea Dickerson (2023-2024) Secretary Lea Dickerson (2023-2024) Treasurer: Robert Krabill (2023-2024) Young Lawyer Liaison: Devin Curda (2022-2024) Board of Governors Liaison*: Kevin Fay (2023-2024) | At-Large Members: Daryl Dumph (2021-2024) *Nonvoting member |
Committee Chairs
Please contact subcommittee members for details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
For general questions, please email inquiries to sections@wsba.org. To get involved and learn more about the Administrative Law Section, please contact Section Chair Ed Pesik.
CLE Committee Diversity and Outreach Committee Homan Award Committee Newsletter Committee | Nominating Committee Publications and Practice Manual Committee Legislative Committee Retreat Committee *Nonvoting member |
