On August 1, the 2025 cohort of the Washington Leadership Institute will be releasing a podcast honoring 20 years of the program. WLI is a visionary collaboration between the Washington State Bar Association and the three law schools in Washington: the University of Washington School of Law, Seattle University School of Law, and Gonzaga University School of Law. WLI is a leadership program that recruits, trains, and develops traditionally underrepresented attorneys for future leadership positions in the legal community. The program prioritizes assembling a cohort of fellows that reflects the diversity of Washington, which includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and geographic location.
Created in 2004 by the WSBA Board of Governors under the leadership of then-President Ronald R. Ward, graduates of the program have gone on to lead in powerful, sometimes unexpected ways across law, policy, business, and community. Alumni of the program have served in impactful roles all over Washington, including as federal and state judges and as the state’s attorney general, a job currently held by past fellow Nick Brown.
The podcast, entitled “Voices That Move Us: Leadership, Legacy, and the Law,” will consist of five episodes. Each episode features an in-depth interview between a current WLI fellow and a past graduate of the program or someone who has had a meaningful impact on the program. The interviewee will share compelling stories about their personal and professional journey with nuggets of information that promise to be insightful to both lawyers and non-lawyers alike.
For prospective participants of WLI, the podcast will offer an inspiring look at how the program can shape one’s path and amplify their voice. For funders and supporters, it is a powerful testament to the long-term impact of investing in diverse leadership within Washington’s legal profession.
These are the stories that build legacy, fuel change, and inspire a more inclusive future.
The five interviewees are Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary I. Yu; Ronald R. Ward, managing partner at Ronald R. Ward PLLC; James F. Williams, managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Seattle office; Sarah R. Pendleton, clerk of the Washington Supreme Court; and Francis Adewale, president-elect of the Washington State Bar Association. The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube starting August 1, 2025.
Oscar Aguirre is the managing attorney of KCBA’s Records Project and a current fellow of the Washington Leadership Institute. If you are interested in volunteering or have questions about the Records Project, please email Oscar at oscara@kcba.org.
