What a year it has been for the New Lawyers Division (NLD)! Thanks to the enthusiasm, energy, and commitment of our members, the NLD is firmly established as a welcoming community where new lawyers can build connections, develop their careers, and make a difference in the legal profession.
 

Limited License Legal Technicians provide quite a bit of pro bono service in their practices and also for agencies that recruit volunteers to provide such services. It’s part of the ethos of the license. The limits of the scope of the license are to practice within family law and to support petitioners in agreed and default minor guardianships.

This month we went searching for something a little different, maybe even exotic. The search included foods from parts of the world we do not usually get to sample, or other novel menu items.

The Seattle area has always been a community that looks outward.

We are a metropolitan area shaped by water, commerce, innovation, and the movement of people from every corner of the globe. Our history is one of connection — between communities, cultures, and ideas. This summer, that spirit has been on full display as Seattle welcomes the world for the FIFA World Cup.
 

The following are highlights from the KCBA Board of Trustees meeting held May 20, 2026, and convened by KCBA President Sidney Tribe.
 

Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, with its focus on rights and the rule of law. These concepts continue to guide attorneys and judges today. The Fourth of July serves as a reminder that the legal profession’s role includes safeguarding constitutional principles, ensuring access to justice, and upholding the integrity of legal institutions. I hope that this holiday reminds us to balance advocacy, civic duty, and the preservation of the freedoms and structures that make a collaborative and orderly society possible.
 

Modern jury research suggests that today’s jurors are increasingly skeptical of authority figures and experts. As a result, authenticity may matter as much as credentials. Jurors are generally persuaded by experts who appear genuine, candid, and interested in helping the jury understand the evidence.
 

At my curmudgeonly age and stage, I find myself in constant conversations about health and retirement. Friends, family members, acquaintances, strangers at social gatherings: everybody seems to be talking about what comes next. It’s really no different from younger lawyers talking about careers, daycare, schools, and billable hours. We just swap out different anxieties.
 

The school year is ending and one final project looms. The most boring class in history. You remember it; can picture it. The teacher, the classroom, the wooden door with the tiny rectangle window. Peek at the class notes, maybe talk to a classmate and work as hard as possible to find the easiest way to get the grade, and move on with your life. You don’t learn the material; you learn how to get the grade you want. Step into the jury room after the closing bell and you’ll witness a familiar story: the verdict isn’t the last piece in a painstaking logic puzzle.

Come for the CLE credits, stay for the community.

KCBA will be hosting its first annual KCBA Conference this September. We hope you’ll join us! The conference will be designed for maximum networking opportunities, sprinkled with timely CLE content that’s relevant for all practice areas.

Tentative plenary session topics:

• A.I. Policies for Law Offices
• Attorney Wellness—Now a WSBA Licensing Requirement?
• Innovation in Attorney Fee Structures
• Social Media Marketing for Attorneys
• Insurance Coverage for the Non-Insurance Attorney
• Legal Writing Master Class
• Update on WA Alternative Pathways to Licensure

This conference will be open to members only, so be sure you renew/join in June. Those who renew before June 30 will receive early access and discounts for the conference.

In addition to CLE, the Conference will feature complimentary headshots, section/division-specific networking opportunities, exhibitor tables, law-related apparel and other goodies for sale, and an optional dine-around lunch September 18.

We are excited to see you at this inaugural event! 

Interested in speaking at the conference? Send us a proposal to cle@kcba.org by July 31 for consideration.

Proposal Guidelines: Please limit your proposal to 800 words, include information about all proposed speakers/panelists, and explain how your topic is relevant to most areas of law.