The Washington Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the requirement that a plaintiff in a legal malpractice claim arising from a criminal case prove that the plaintiff was actually innocent of the crime involved. The “actual innocence” requirement presents a high bar for claimants because, as the Supreme Court explained in Ang v. Martin, 154 Wn.2d 477, […]
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New rules amending many of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) become effective Sept. 1, 2016. On June 2, 2016, the Washington Supreme Court entered the order adopting the new rules. See Order No. 25700-A-1146. In 2013, the Supreme Court asked the WSBA to evaluate recent amendments to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct […]
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In State v. Mecham, the Washington Supreme Court issued a fractured opinion in a DUI prosecution in which the state entered into evidence the defendant’s refusal to perform field sobriety tests (FST). Although the court stated in its June 16 ruling it was affirming the defendant’s conviction, the actual result appears to reverse the conviction […]
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March is Women’s History Month, and we’d like to take a moment to honor some trailblazing women from Washington’s legal history. Do you have a favorite figure in Washington women’s history that we missed? Please leave a comment and add to our list!
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The state Court of Appeals recently issued an important clarification on disqualification standards for improper access to an opponent’s privileged information in a case pitting a ship owner against a vessel renovation contractor.
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On June 26, 2015, the WSBA presented “Washington State Bar Association: 125 Years and Counting,” celebrating the state Bar’s past, present and future. Members of Washington’s legal community, including Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu and deans from the state’s three law schools, gave presentations and panel discussions on a variety of timely topics.
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Washington state is making national news with the introduction of Limited License Legal Technicians. Washington will be the first U.S. jurisdiction to license legal technicians, but a number of states are already studying Washington’s model for possible adoption. Legal technicians are authorized to provide legal advice within the limited scope described in Regulation 2 of […]
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If your mail seems a little heavier than usual, there’s a reason: the June 2015 NWLawyer is our biggest single issue ever, at a whopping 80 pages! So what will you find inside this issue?
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The “no contact” rule — RPC 4.2 — usually arises in the disciplinary context. Recently, however, Division I of the Court of Appeals cited the rule in rejecting a settlement.
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Defining the scope of a representation has long been a key risk management tool for law firms to incorporate into engagement letters with their clients.
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A recent Washington Supreme Court decision highlights the importance of a lawyer’s professional duty to act diligently.
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