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.
WSBA Sections are currently seeking section members to fill openings on their section executive committees for terms beginning Oct. 1, 2021. 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
Juvenile Law Section
The Juvenile Law Section creates a venue and an opportunity for a broad representation of juvenile justice and child welfare participants to work on systems improvements that impact children, youth and their families. Unlike a bar committee, a bar section allows for broader participation and may include non-lawyer professionals who work with juveniles or on juvenile-justice issues.
The section provides a name that is broad enough to encompass the many different areas of practice involving children and youth. It is intended to be inclusive of defenders, prosecutors, attorneys general, court appointed special advocates, civil legal aid attorneys, judges, service providers and law students to allow for cross-system training and collaboration, which can lead to improved outcomes for young people, their families and the community.
Areas of legal practice the section address include child welfare, juvenile justice, status offenses, immigration as it relates to children and families, truancy, at-risk-youth and child in need of services proceedings, as well as a variety of civil legal needs of youth.
Joining the section for one year involves a $30 membership fee.
Join Today | Annual Report | Budget | Bylaws | Year in Review
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Congratulations, Incoming Executive Committee Members!
Below are the results of the Juvenile Law Section Executive Committee election. Thank you for voting!
For more information about the Section and its Executive Committee roles, please review the Section's bylaws. Winners are listed alphabetically by position.
Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Vacant
Secretary/Treasurer: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Vacant
At-Large Member: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Civil Legal Needs Committee Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Vacant
Dependency and Child Welfare Committee Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Juvenile Offender Committee Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Legislative Committee Chair: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
CLE/Outreach Coordinator: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2021, and ending Sept. 30, 2022.
Vacant
Questions?
Email sections@wsba.org.
Executive Committee
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Co-Chair: Jill Malat (2020-2021) Co-Chair: vacant Secretary/Treasurer: Mike Addams (2020-2021) Board of Governors Liaison*: Brett Purtzer (2020-2021) Young Lawyer Liaison: Johnathan Preshaw (2019-2021) Legislative Committee Chair: Bailey Zydek (2020-2021)
CLE/Outreach Coordinator: |
Dependency & Child Welfare Committee Co-Chairs: Civil Legal Needs Committee Co-Chairs: Juvenile Offender Committee Co-Chairs: At-Large Members:
Law School Representatives*: * Nonvoting member |
The WSBA Juvenile Law Executive Committee generally conducts meetings by videoconference from noon to 1 p.m. on the 3rd Friday of each month. See event calendar listing for log-in information. Please contact subcommittee members for details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the section, contact the section co-chair Jill Malat.
