Washington State Bar Association Honors James Rodriguez as a Local Hero
PORT ANGELES, Wash., May 2, 2025 — Today the Washington State Bar Association presented James Rodriguez with the Local Hero award in recognition of his outstanding pro bono contributions made through the Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers (CJCPBL) and as Clallam County Bar Association (CCBA) president from 2021 to 2024.
The Local Hero award is presented to those who have made noteworthy contributions going above and beyond in their communities. WSBA President Sunitha Anjilvel presented the award at the May 2 meeting of WSBA Board of Governors in Port Angeles, WA. The Clallam County Bar Association nominated Rodriguez for the award.
“The value that James places on helping others is apparent to anyone who has spent time with him,” said one of Rodriguez’s nominators, CCBA President Ruth Mollinet. “The past year presented James with some serious health challenges, but that didn’t prevent him from continuing to serve pro bono clients, at times practically assisting people from his hospital bed. In a small community where it can be difficult for even paying clients to find legal counsel, this level of dedication is vital for providing access to justice in Clallam County.”
Even before moving to Washington, Rodriguez was heavily involved in pro bono work in San Antonio, Texas, where he earned his J.D. at St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2008. He was awarded St. Mary’s Pro Bono Services Award the same year. During his time in San Antonio, he continued to make a personal commitment to pro bono work through San Antonio Community Justice, a neighborhood based-legal services program. There he was honored as the Community Justice Pro Bono Program’s Attorney of the Year in 2001 and 2015.
Since Rodriguez moved to the Olympic Peninsula and joined the WSBA in 2017, his impactful work has continued to flourish. While his family-law practice keeps him busy, he still finds time to provide high quality pro bono legal services. Since joining CJCPBL, Rodriguez was awarded their Volunteer of the Year Award in 2019 and currently serves on their board. “There are many wonderful things about James,” Mollinet said “I could brag about him all day. The nuts and bolts of it is he is genuine, kindhearted, believes in the legal system, and loves helping people.”
In addition to his work with CJCPBL, Rodriguez assists clients through the Olympic Area Agency on Aging, an organization that assists seniors and adults with disabilities. His commitment to accessible, compassionate legal guidance has made a meaningful difference in the lives of many.
About the Washington State Bar Association
The WSBA operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court and exercises a governmental function authorized by the Court to license and regulate the state’s nearly 40,000 legal professionals, including lawyers, limited practice officers, and limited license legal technicians. The WSBA both regulates legal professionals under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA administers the Bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; administers the lawyer discipline system; and provides continuing legal education for legal professionals, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities. The Bar’s mission is to serve the public and its members, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.
