Communication skills, especially active listening, are crucial for lawyers to build trust with clients. Effective communication requires pausing before responding and using nonverbal feedback to confirm understanding. Good listeners foster deeper exchanges, ensuring clarity and empathy. Mastering these skills enhances lawyers’ professional effectiveness and strengthens client relationships.
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Across the country, prosecutors’ offices are struggling. With many prosecutors saying they are underpaid and overworked, offices from Houston to Los Angeles to Yakima are experiencing the consequences of a mounting problem. People just don’t seem to want the job anymore. “What we’re seeing out of law schools, especially in younger attorneys, is they’re really […]
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A married couple sought Medicaid planning to protect their home from estate recovery by placing it in an irrevocable trust, but this resulted in their home becoming an available asset, making them ineligible for benefits. The author emphasizes the importance of consulting specialists for effective Medicaid planning to avoid complications.
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Chances are, as a land dweller, you haven’t given much thought to the laws of the high seas. Maybe you’ve stumbled across the subject of maritime law in your time in the legal profession or merely found yourself curious about the ins and outs of the law when aquatic matters are involved. Whatever you know […]
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Last month, a rise in divorce inquiries was noted at a family law firm, possibly linked to political rhetoric surrounding no-fault divorce. California pioneered this system in 1969, which promotes less adversarial separations. Washington state maintains strong protections for no-fault divorce, ensuring accessible and equitable solutions for residents.
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The 21st century is almost one-quarter complete. When the calendar switches over and 2024 moves aside for 2025, it’s hard not to think about where we were 25 years ago. Back then we were worried about Y2K and a technological apocalypse; today our lives have been infiltrated by artificial intelligence. Then we were raising the […]
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The Washington State Bar Association is launching a new demographic study to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession, following a previous study conducted twelve years ago. The Bar wants your feedback on the draft Equity and Justice Plan. Additionally, the November issue of Bar News magazine covers generative AI’s impact on law.
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The Washington Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a legal malpractice claim due to its being time-barred in Wood v. Dunn & Black. The court underscored that a client’s criticism of a law firm can trigger the statute of limitation, emphasizing that assertions made in a letter initiated the three-year clock for filing a claim.
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The WSBA Board of Governors will assess a proposal from the WSBA Business Law Section to amend the Washington Business Corporation Act. This proposal aims to update board committee provisions and includes technical corrections. The Legislative Review Committee has unanimously recommended sponsorship for the upcoming legislative session, with a Board vote scheduled for Nov. 7-8.
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On September 27, 2024, Ryan Swanson Law mourned the loss of Joel Paget, a dedicated immigration lawyer and mentor for over five decades. Known for his legal expertise, warmth, and commitment to helping others, Joel played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s immigration practice and positively impacted countless lives.
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In the October issue of Bar News, meet Sunitha Anjilvel, who made history as the first South Asian woman president of the WSBA and any U.S. state bar association. Her presidency emphasizes community and collaboration within the legal profession. The latest Bar News also features pro bono achievements, insights into patenting space inventions, and interviews with international legal professionals.
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A federal district court in Seattle ordered a lawyer to release a client’s file following a motion to compel. The court emphasized that under Washington RPC 1.16(d), the file belongs to the client, not the lawyer. The ruling reinforced WSBA advisory opinions regarding file transition obligations when a lawyer withdraws. The lawyer must comply within five days.
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Legal professionals take on a lot of responsibilities: advocate, community organizer, and the occasional shoulder to cry on. While much of what they do can go unnoticed much of the time, each year the WSBA recognizes and honors legal professionals from around the state who demonstrate exceptionalism. This year is no different. In our profile […]
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These are the questions behind a proposed pilot project to test entity regulation that is being advanced by leaders of the Practice of Law Board (POLB) and the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). Under the Court’s guidance, the POLB has been working on this concept for years, and by the end of September 2024, they plan to present their proposal to the Court in the form of a draft order.
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Retired attorney Michael Goldenkranz reflects on his maternal grandfather’s significant role in securing rights for union members, despite suffering personal and professional repercussions. Facing corruption within the painters’ union, he risked his livelihood and physical safety to confront the financial wrongdoing. His legal battle set a precedent for challenging union officials, leaving a lasting impact.
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Knowing when to withdraw is often a difficult exercise. A recent decision by Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals in Seattle, however, underscored the risks of waiting too long. In Atlas Debt Holdings, LLC v. Seafood Express, LLC, 2024 WL 3650246 (Wn. App. Aug. 5, 2024) (unpublished), a law firm was careful not […]
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