Diversity Committee
The Washington State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee is dedicated to implementing WSBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan. The committee's work promotes historically underrepresented groups to enter, remain, thrive, and lead in the profession of law. The committee does this by providing guidance and recommendations to the Board of Governors on diversity, equity and inclusion issues, collaborating with Minority Bar Associations and other equity and justice organizations to host events and educational programs , and supporting law students from historically underrepresented communities.
Diversity & Inclusion Portal
The mission of the WSBA is to serve the public and members of the Bar, to ensure integrity of the profession and to champion justice. Guided by the mission and under the authority of the Supreme Court as outlined in General Rule 12.2, the WSBA works to promote diversity and equality in the courts and the legal profession and promote an effective legal system accessible to all. The WSBA has signed on to the Race Equity and Justice Initiative’s Acknowledgements and Commitments, which provides further guidance on how the organization approaches equity and inclusion.
Civil Rights Law Section
The Civil Rights Law Section sponsors CLEs on civil rights law and provides a forum for activities with civil rights organizations throughout the state. The Section focuses on the practice and policy of civil rights law, which includes the rights of racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual-orientation minorities; immigrants; those with a mental or physical disability; and the impoverished; as well as issues regarding freedom of speech; freedom from state-promulgated religion; and privacy rights.
Elder Law Section
The practice of elder law focuses on an array of legal issues particularly important to older people but important to many others as well. They include issues relating to retirement and estate planning, powers of attorney, guardianship and other forms of substitute decision making, private and public long-term care and other healthcare financing, and abuse of vulnerable individuals, among other issues.
Indian Law Section
The Indian Law Section provides a forum for practitioners representing clients affected by Indian law. Federal, tribal, and state laws; executive and administrative actions; and court decisions produce a complex and rapidly evolving array of law that affects legal services. The Section schedules CLE programs on subjects that provide information to practitioners representing clients affected by Indian law. Section members also receive a newsletter highlighting recent developments in Indian law.
LGBT Law Section
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Law Section strives to: support understanding among WSBA members of the legal needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents of Washington; assist LGBT residents and those who represent them; better understand how their legal needs can be met; support research, education, and collaboration by section members on issues of sexual orientation and gender identification; promote the study of LGBT law and report on changing law and regulations as they affect LGBT people and communities; assist in legislative work undertaken within the scope of GR 12; and act as a liaison between the WSBA, its Board of Governors, LGBT organizations, and the public.