Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
The WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section promotes the informed use and best practices for all dispute resolution processes in Washington. Whether mediating, arbitrating or negotiating, every lawyer is an ADR professional. The section is home to many attorneys who are also members of other sections.
The WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section welcomes and encourages participation of all ADR professionals. You don’t have to be a lawyer or a member of WSBA. This is the community for all ADR professionals: mediators, arbitrators, and lawyers representing and advising their clients.
The Section provides benefits to members by participating in legislative activities that relate to dispute resolution and undertakes projects aimed at increasing the availability and quality of dispute resolution services throughout the state. The Section also maintains a website, which offers an online dispute resolution provider directory, sponsors an annual meeting, and provides other dispute resolution educational programs, including co-sponsorship of the annual Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference.
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Shape Your Section for the Future: Apply Today to Become a Section Leader
The application deadline has been extended to 5 p.m. April 29, 2022.
The following section executive committee positions are open for applications. All terms begin Oct. 1, 2022.
- Chair: two-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
- Vice-chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2023.
- Secretary: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2023.
- Treasurer: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2023.
- At-Large Member: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2023.
- At-Large Member: two-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
- At-Large Member (three positions open): three-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2025.
To learn more about roles and expectations for serving on the section executive committee, review this volunteer position description, which provides a general overview of section executive committee positions—these may differ for each section.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be a current section member and should be eligible to vote in accordance with the section’s bylaws.
Application Process
Go to the myWSBA portal to complete the online application for open executive committee positions. The Section has requested that each applicant submit a resume and statement of interest with your application. These documents can be uploaded with your online application (pdf format only). Please be advised that application materials may be posted on this website for public viewing.
Note: If you are applying for more than one position on this or multiple sections’ committees, you must complete and submit all applications at the same time, as you will not be allowed back into the portal at a later time. Please make sure you are completing the applications within the application window for all of the relevant sections.
Nomination Process
The nominating committee shall consist of the Immediate Past Chair, the current Chair and the Vice Chair, and one Section member who is not currently a voting member of the executive committee. The nominating committee shall nominate one or more members of this Section for each of the offices of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, and for the open At-Large executive committee positions. All applicants will apply through an electronic application process administered by the Association. The executive committee will also have an alternative nominating process to allow for nominations to occur outside of the nominating committee process. The executive committee will approve a list of nominees for each open position. Persons nominated through an alternative nomination process will be included on the final list of approved nominees.
Alternate Nomination Process
The executive committee will also have an alternative nominating process to allow for nominations to occur outside of the nominating committee process. The executive committee will approve a list of nominees for each open position. Persons nominated through an alternative nomination process will be included on the final list of approved nominees.
Elections Process
All voting members of the section will receive an electronic ballot sent to their email in June 2022. Visit this webpage in early June for election updates and voting instructions.
Questions?
For more information about the Section, its executive committee roles, and elections process, please review the Section’s bylaws. You may also contact any member of the current Section Executive Committee or email sections@wsba.org.
What We Do
The WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section connects professionals with relevant ADR resources and information:
- The NW Collaborative Futures Conference — a cross-border future-focused conflict resolution conference that WSBA ADR has created in partnership with Mediate BC, CoRe Conflict Resolution Society, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLEBC), and Mediate.com
- Educational presentations for both neutrals and advocates
- Unsurpassed networking opportunities with other ADR professionals
- Cost-effective CLE credits in ADR
WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section hosts an interactive, content-driven website www.wsba-adr.org — the online network of ADR professionals. It is the source for relevant, current dispute resolution information in Washington:
- Share information and engage in professional discussions and in the Forum
- Learn about conferences and seminars on the Events page
- Connect with colleagues in Groups focused on specific ADR subjects like Arbitration, Foreclosure Mediation or Land Use
- Create your own individual online profile to market services to potential clients, connect with colleagues and get referrals on the ADR Professional Directory
How We Do It
WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section has an Executive Committee and five standing committees:
Click on any of the committee group pages above to learn more, see how they can help you in your ADR practice and how you can get involved.
Executive Committee
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Position (term end) Chair: Melvyn Simburg (2022) Vice Chair: Vacant Secretary: Mary Juetten (2022) Treasurer: Courtland Shafer (2022) Immediate Past Chair: Joanna Roth (2022)
Board of Governors Liaison*: Alec Stephens (2021-2022) Young Lawyer Liaison: |
At-Large Members:
Lish Whitson
Carol Dianne Betts
Dee Knapp Legislation Committee C0-Chairs*: *Nonvoting member |
Meetings
The WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Executive Committee conducts meetings on the third Friday of each month, beginning at noon and concluding by 1:30 p.m.
Executive Committee meetings are currently being conducted by teleconference only. You may attend virtually by calling 669-900-6833, and using access code 8824651313#. Please contact committee members for any other details on their upcoming meetings.
To learn more about the benefits of section membership, see the WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section website, contact any member of the Executive Committee or contact membership@wsba-adr.org.
Join Our List Serve
The ADR Section list serve is a great way to connect with your fellow ADR professionals. Members on the list serve are now able to post directly to the list serve. In order to foster a welcoming and productive environment, the ADR Section Executive Committee has adopted general list serve guidelines and section-specific list serve guidelines. To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org.
