As you may remember, law school is time-consuming to say the least. When you’re juggling classes and tests and the myriad other responsibilities of life, admittedly the daily business of the Washington State Bar Association may not be your top priority.
To help create new connections between law students and their likely future bar association, each year the WSBA partners with the state’s three law schools to select a law student representative from each. Law school representatives serve as liaisons who both share WSBA resources with their fellow students and provide valuable feedback from their classmates to the WSBA.
Read on to meet the 2023-2024 law school representatives and learn about their concerns, their plans, and the issues at the forefront for the next generation of legal professionals.
Sara Becker-Mayer, University of Washington
When Sara Becker-Mayer turned in her final exam at the end of her first quarter of 1L, it “felt like such a proud moment for me. I hadn’t been sure that I could do it, and even just turning it in without knowing the grade showed me that I could put in the effort and was able to give it my all.”
Later she celebrated that moment with her fellow classmates. And now, as a law school representative for UW, Becker-Mayer hopes to not only connect with her classmates but connect them with practicing WSBA members.
“I am hoping to create more opportunities for law students to connect with professionals so students who are new to the legal profession can learn about all of the types of attorney positions that they may never have heard of,” she said.
2L Becker-Mayer attended law school with the goal of one day being able to “advocate for the environment and people who often don’t have a voice for themselves.” She has already “had an awesome experience” externing for a judge and would like to eventually clerk for one to gain more judiciary experience and, therefore, become a better advocate.
Because looking forward, Becker-Mayer sees room to regain trust from a public that is increasingly dubious of legal professionals.
“I think that lawyers have an intense uphill battle for legitimacy and must work harder than ever to fulfill their ethical responsibilities,” she said.
The future of the legal profession will also involve broader adoption of new technologies. In the law, like so many other fields, that means artificial intelligence.
“I think many students are thinking about the way AI technology is going to change the legal profession in ways technology never has before,” she said. “We want law schools and firms to incorporate this technology into learning and work, so professionals and the profession itself are able to keep up with the changing world.”
Tanner Mullen, Gonzaga University
Tanner Mullen, is a second-year law student at Gonzaga University and the Student Bar Association ABA Representative for the second consecutive year. With a passion for problem-solving and a commitment to alleviating the stresses faced by his peers, Tanner’s journey into law is a continuation of his deep-seated desire for stability, continuous learning, and community engagement.
Motivated by a keen interest in reliable career paths that encourage intellectual growth, Tanner chose law as the best avenue to combine his love for learning with a genuine desire to assist individuals facing adversity.
Recognizing the isolating nature of law school, Tanner strives to foster a sense of community among students. His goal is to expand networks and enhance professional skills, emphasizing the value each student brings to the Gonzaga legal community. As the WSBA Representative, he said he’s looking forward to leveraging the extensive network at his disposal to ensure Gonzaga students are aware of the resources available to them.
Tanner said that one of his fondest law school memories stems from his participation in the Gonzaga Law Negotiations Competition during his 1L year. Collaborating with a teammate to negotiate on behalf of hypothetical clients provided a practical application of his skills and an opportunity to explore new aspects of the legal profession.
He aims to meet inspiring individuals, broaden his horizons, and secure fulfilling employment that prepares him for a successful legal practice, ideally in an in-house role.
An advocate at heart, Tanner said he finds joy in problem-solving and offering reassurance to those facing stressful situations. Anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome among law students are challenges that Tanner believes demand attention, and he commends the faculty and staff at Gonzaga Law for their continuous efforts to support students.
Looking ahead, Tanner sees a shift in priorities for upcoming lawyers. While law was traditionally viewed as a means of personal provision, he observes a growing trend among his peers—a selfless and compassionate drive to advocate for the downtrodden and marginalized.
Tiffany Diener, Seattle University
Note: This will be Diener’s second consecutive year as a law school representative.
When Tiffany Diener thinks of the things that most affect her and her fellow classmates at Seattle University School of Law, she thinks about “[a] shared uncertainty of what’s to come.
“Recent legal decisions have placed a number of human rights at risk causing alarm for many students who are ready to go forward and advocate to protect the rights now threatened,” Diener explained.
It was those very rights that inspired Diener to want to become a lawyer in the first place. She chose to go to law school “[t]o advocate for social justice and highlight understanding of diversity and equity, [to] see people as individuals and acknowledge that we are imperfect. I want to become an attorney and use it as a tool to make a positive change in peoples’ lives.”
But before graduating law school and passing the bar exam, Diener saw in the WSBA Law Student Representative program an opportunity to help her classmates ahead of when she hopes to help her clients.
Diener joined the WSBA law student program because she sees it as “a great resource” and a way to “liaison between the WSBA members and Seattle U Law students to help interested students get involved in creating mentorship opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and networking with new and young lawyers in Washington.”
“I really look forward to helping each other grow through a sharing of resources and information that will help others in their future goals,” Diener said.
