What You Can Do to Promote Professionalism

If you like the idea of promoting professionalism amongst attorneys, but do not know how to help, here are a few suggestions:

• Familiarize yourself with the Washington State Bar Association Creed of Professionalism and the King County Guidelines of Professional Courtesy. Most attorneys are now familiar with the existence of these, but a little fuzzy on the contents. They are listed at www.wsba.org and www.kcba.org.
• Join groups such as the Council of Laws. These groups started by the King County Bar Association Professionalism Committee seek to promote professionalism through regular social meetings of groups of attorneys. KCBA members, who participate in the program, are assigned to individual councils for two year terms. Further information may be obtained by contacting the King County Professionalism Committee Chair, Kirk Johns at kjohns@staffordfrey.com.
• Act professionally yourself and congratulate others when they do so.
• If your practice involves interaction with physicians, check out the Guidelines for Physicians and Attorneys at www.kcba.org. These suggested guidelines direct both attorneys and physicians on how they should interact with each other in civil litigation. They are produced by the Medical-Legal Committee which is a joint committee of the King County Medical Society and the King County Bar Association. For more information contact David Roth at rothlaw@aol.com.
• Invite members of the Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Committee to talk to your group about professionalism. Contact Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Committee member, Marguerite Smith at margsmith@earthlink.net.
• Place the Washington State Bar Association Creed of Professionalism and the King County Bar Association Guidelines of Professional Courtesy on your website.
• Refer work to other attorneys who advocate professionalism. Consider listing other attorneys who agree to adhere to the Creed and Guidelines for no charge on your website. This is being done on my website, www.informeddivorce.com, a divorce information website which lists attorneys in all areas of practice. Be counted amongst those who stand for professionalism: apply for your listing on the site.
• Mentor less experienced attorneys in areas of civility, professionalism and competence. For more information contact Peter at peter@wsba.org or llisond@wsba.org.
• Buy a WSBA plaque of the Creed of Professional Responsibility. Display it in a in a place where it can be seen by the public and fellow workers. To purchase a plaque, contact Judy Berrett at judithb@wsba.org.
• Join the WSBA Professionalism Committee and/or the KCBA Professionalism Committee as an active member.