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.

Eric Gillett reframes mediation as an opportunity for cooperation rather than capitulation. He argues that lawyers can resolve cases more efficiently by gathering facts early, sharing key information voluntarily, and preparing opposing counsel for meaningful settlement discussions. Gillett encourages attorneys to avoid unnecessary discovery battles when informal exchanges can help both sides evaluate the case sooner and at lower cost. The result is a more practical, resolution-focused approach that preserves advocacy while reducing conflict.

House Bill 1501 creates new written-response obligations for Washington community organizations, requiring substantive answers to certain owner inquiries within 30 days. The change is part of a broader legislative push toward greater transparency for condominium associations, HOAs, and other common interest communities. But the new law also leaves practical questions for association boards, including how to manage unclear deadline extensions, attorney-fee exposure, and repeated inquiries from owners. Associations that adopt written policies now will be better positioned to set expectations, respond, efficiently, and avoid unnecessary conflict.

Washington courts have long held that interlocutory review is disfavored because piecemeal appeals undermine the prompt, economical resolution of legal disputes.[1] For that reason, interlocutory trial court decisions rarely justify interrupting the proceedings for immediate appeal. RAP 2.2 reflects this policy by allowing litigants to appeal as a matter of right only after the trial court enters final judgment or a similar order.
 

The 2025–26 membership year was a special one! Not least because the Member Services Department added 2 new staff members: David Swidler joined us as Events Coordinator, and Habtamu Kabeto joined us as our new Sections Coordinator. Welcome!
 

Are you a mid-career attorney looking for ways to build your leadership skills, do good work, and meet a variety of dynamic attorneys and judges? Are you a newer attorney looking to meet new people and potentially find a mentor? How about a retired attorney with time to give back to your profession? If so, join a committee!
 

King County Bar Foundation’s Breakfast With Champions set a new fundraising record, raising $380,000 for law student scholarships and pro bono legal services. The event brought together leaders across the legal, business, and civic communities in support of expanded access to justice. Speakers and client stories highlighted the real-world impact of legal assistance for students, caregivers, families, and vulnerable residents throughout King County. The funds raised will help KCBA invest in future legal leaders while continuing to provide critical services to community members who could not otherwise afford representation.

The required time period for accepting nominations has concluded, and the King County Bar Association New Lawyers Division will now vote on the following slate of candidates to fill vacancies on the NLD Board.
 

There are a lot of new restaurants opening in town — but most of them do not seem to be open for lunch. For this issue, we wanted to focus on new lunch options. The ones we found were a short bus ride away from downtown, on Capitol Hill.