Search Results for “mary wells” – NWSidebar

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A Night to Celebrate: Watch The 2022 WSBA APEX Awards

On Sept. 22, the WSBA invited legal professionals, friends, family, and the public to once again celebrate legal luminaries from around the state of Washington. The 2022 APEX — Acknowledging Professional Excellence — Awards were held virtually, presenting awards and accolades across 12 categories and recognizing the contributions WSBA members have made toward access to justice, pro bono service, innovation in the law, and much more.

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The Richest Man in Town

One of the final scenes of Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” occurs when George Bailey, having been shown how truly full and blessed his life has been, is toasted by his younger brother: “A toast to my big brother George: the richest man in town.” The twist of the beloved movie is that, even in his darkest moments, George Bailey really had a wonderful life—he just didn’t realize it.
George Bailey is, of course, a fictional character. Today, however, I wish to honor a flesh-and-blood man—a man whom I was fortunate to count as a dear and treasured friend. As many attorneys in Spokane are aware, Ryan McNeice, one of the founding partners of McNeice Wheeler, PLLC, died on April 20 from cancer. Like George Bailey, Ryan had a loving wife and family, the respect and admiration of all who knew him, and a community that was positively impacted by him in more ways than can possibly be counted.

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Top Pandemic Reading Picks for Law Pros

If there’s a shining light from spending a year under lockdown, it does at least provide ample time to read. The following are some of the titles I read during the past year of pandemic life—in no particular order—which members might enjoy.

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What it’s Like Being a WSBA Law School Representative During Strange Times

Faced with a global pandemic, a massive civil rights movement, uncertain economic futures, and most recently a blanketing of smoke as much of the Western United States burns, it’s no small feat to manage three years of intensive legal study on top of that. Even so, this year, as in years past, student representatives from Washington’s three law schools have partnered with the WSBA to serve as a vital link between their classmates and (hopefully) future professional regulator. Read on to learn what’s on the minds of the 2020-2021 law school representatives.

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Retirement Retrospective: Washington Supreme Court Justice Charles K. Wiggins

As Justice Wiggins whiles away his last days on the bench, we asked him his views on judicial elections, among other things he’s learned as a Supreme Court justice.

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WSBA Chief Disciplinary Counsel Receives National Bar Counsel Award

WSBA Chief Disciplinary Counsel Doug Ende is an eclectic personality on top of being a meticulous and measured legal ethics professional. This certainly was not lost on the National Organization of Bar Counsel (NOBC), which presented Ende with the 2020 NOBC President’s Award virtually on July 30.

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Farewells and Celebrations in the Latest NWLawyer

The WSBA literally would not function without the hundreds upon hundreds of dedicated volunteers who often work behind the scenes to keep the legal profession on a path of progression. Serving selflessly in everything from committees to boards to sections, WSBA volunteers are the propulsive force behind issues that touch the lives of lawyers, LPOs, […]

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A Conversation with the New Chief Justice

We chat with Washington’s new Chief Justice Debra Stephens to better understand what direction she might take the court.

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Unemployment, Civil Legal Aid, and the COVID-19 Crisis

If the economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was the earthquake, the mounting claims of unemployment and other legal issues are the coming tsunami.

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Celebrate Civil Legal Aid in the Latest NWLawyer

The Constitution guarantees the right to a lawyer when someone is charged criminally, yet says nothing for civil matters. This leaves countless people, many of whom are already financially stretched, to fend for themselves as they face painful situations like an abusive partner or a looming eviction or possible deportation. It wasn’t that long ago […]

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UPDATE: Proposed Ethics CLE Requirements Headed to Supreme Court

A majority of the Supreme Court’s Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board voted to send a recommendation for a suggested amendment to Admission and Practice Rule 11 to the Board of Governors.

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Friday 5: Keys to Successful Hiring

Perhaps you are a solo practitioner ready to hire your first assistant, or a small firm practitioner whose practice is thriving and it’s time to add an associate. Whatever your reasons for bringing a new person on board, here are 5 key components that can help make the process a success. Craft an up-to-date, well […]

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Friday 5: Keys to Marketing the Rural Law Practice

Marketing in a small town can present unique challenges to the solo or small firm practitioner. You have a smaller pool of potential clients from which to draw. You also have a product — or, in this case, a service — which doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the traditional advertising and marketing methods of other […]

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Online Dating for Lawyers: Success Guaranteed!*

Dating websites and apps are surefire methods to help workaholics land that special someone, but there are some universal rules for the game of online dating.

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Update from WSBA President Patrick Palace

June flew by! I thought I would take a few minutes to give you an update on the highlights of the month. The month began with our Board of Governors meeting at the WSBA conference center. I am happy to report to you that we had more members watching online then we have ever had before. […]

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Does Washington State Law Create a Negligence Cause of Action for Breach of HIPAA?

Yes, if that failure causes harm. Learn more. It’s well known to health lawyers — or should be — that HIPAA does not include or create a private cause of action for breach of its requirements. This wasn’t changed with HITECH and the recently issued HITECH Megarule. It appears, however, that state laws allow individuals […]