Over the years that I have worked at the King County Bar Association, the Bar has continually refined its bylaws to strengthen governance and improve operational efficiency. Notable updates during this time have included increasing the number of trustees to 17, streamlining elections by removing the requirement for contested races, and eliminating the need for a separate canvass board when conducting electronic elections.

There may not be anyone who embraces change as wholeheartedly as Paula Emery. As an experienced attorney, mediator, leader, and educator, Paula has created an interdisciplinary practice at the forefront of her field. While Paula serves today as the Chair of the WSBA and interim Chair of the KCBA’s Dispute Resolution sections, her path to a career in mediation does not appear, at first glance, to have been linear. However, in many ways, this could not be further from the truth. Both inside and outside of the profession, Paula’s career speaks for itself—her deep commitment to justice and conflict resolution began long before she first took her Oath of Attorney. In fact, Paula embodies the true definition of someone who has always known their calling, and who has done everything in her power to find ways to best serve her clients.

Business litigation is expensive and risky. Much of it may not be covered by insurance. The life of a business may be contingent on a successful result. Reputations in the business community or the public eye may be on the line. As many of my commercial clients has told me over the years, “it’s all about the brand.” It is no surprise then that mediation has become a cornerstone of dispute resolution in commercial litigation, providing a less adversarial, more collaborative approach to settling disputes. As attorneys, preparing effectively for mediation can be the decisive factor in achieving a favorable outcome for your clients. This guide aims to equip you with a plan to strategically navigate the mediation process.

The King County Bar Association was shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of former King County Bar President, Kim Tran. Her legal career was punctuated by extensive pro bono work, and her commitment to diversity exemplified the Bar’s mission then and now.

Kim was the first woman of color to be President of KCBA. Her tenure from 2015 to 2016 focused on strengthening the fundamentals of the organization: strategic planning, updating and amending the by-laws, and tackling the controversies around the new Juvenile Justice Center, leading to the formation of the Bar’s juvenile justice reform task force. Her focus was on making sure the Bar’s foundation was solid and forward-looking, all while carrying and then delivering twin boys with grace and good humor.

“Always Appealing” is a column addressing current issues in appellate practice and recent appellate cases written by the lawyers of Smith Goodfriend, P.S., a Seattle law firm that limits its practice to civil appeals and related trial court motions practice.

After two clerkships and a few years in appellate practice, I have written the summary judgment standard of review more times than I can count. Surely, our esteemed Always Appealing readers could faithfully recite the chapter and verse like pious disciples in the Church of CR 56—”the standard of review is de novo, of course!”

“ …if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness.”
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1968

Huge appreciation to the many lawyers, judges, and community members who joined King County Bar at Seattle Convention Center on January 17, 2025 for this year’s MLK Luncheon. Every year we invite a Keynote Speaker who will encourage us to remember, and live by, Dr. King’s message that every individual is entitled to equality and justice under the law.

Did you know? The KCBA New Lawyers Division is currently seeking applications and nominations for the 2025–2026 board service term. Volunteering as a Trustee is a great way to get involved with KCBA NLD and network with other attorneys in their first 10 years of practice! While on the board, volunteer opportunities range from hosting impactful CLE’s, coordinating and attending NLD social events and giving back by offering your experiences to new lawyers just entering the legal profession. Trustees serving on the NLD board serve terms of two to three years on rotating cycles. Trustees for the 2025–2026 service term begin service on July 1, 2025. Self-nominations are welcome!

Articles about lawyers using artificial intelligence tend to fall into two general categories—either mocking the Luddites for not embracing the future of legal practice or engaging in schadenfreude at lawyers ensnared in AI’s hallucinated citations. Both views make solid points.

Meet Your New Lawyers Division Board of Trustees

Over 15 years ago my partner (we are a bit like Dharma and Greg) “requested” that I take an eight-week mindfulness course and willingly joined me.