Did you know? Your NLD board and committees are working hard to bring you new and exciting content! Since September, we have hosted networking events including Speed Networking and Back-to-Law-School Mixers; social events including Tacos and Trivia Night and a CLE every other month. CLEs usually have a hybrid attendance option, but coming in person is a great way to meet other NLD members. And remember, CLEs hosted by the NLD are complimentary for NLD members.

In the wake of the federal government’s recent large scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, many bar associations and individual lawyers alike have expressed their concerns about lawless, unconstitutional actions such as unlawful use of deadly force, entering into private homes without a judicial warrant or permission, chemical agents used at close range on peaceful protestors, placement of citizens on “domestic terrorist” watchlists for simply expressing First Amendment protected speech, and more. Such actions have not been limited to Minnesota, and many smaller scale unlawful acts are ongoing right here in King County, to say nothing of the alarming reports of detainee abuse at the large federal immigration detention center in Tacoma. And there is no guarantee that a larger operation will not be conducted in Seattle.
 

The recent deaths of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh got me thinking about the Grateful Dead’s steady presence in my life across many decades. I discovered the Dead as a teenager in the fall of 1972 with the release of their live triple album, Europe ’72, and attended concerts whenever I could through my college years, which was pretty easy to do in the northeast, where the band booked numerous concerts over a couple of weeks, all within a hundred mile radius.
 

As our long Seattle winter turns to spring, our community begins to feel a familiar sense of renewal. For those of us in the legal profession, this season offers a natural opportunity to reflect on our shared responsibility—not just to our clients, but to the broader community we serve. Each year, that reflection comes into focus when we gather for the King County Bar Foundation’s Breakfast With Champions on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.
 

As I began writing this month’s Bar Bulletin article, I found myself wondering which observances are recognized in April. I soon discovered that the month is marked by a wide range of them including National Poetry Month and National Humor Month—reminders that creativity and laughter are not luxuries but necessities. April is also National Volunteer Month, a time to give back to the communities that sustain us, as well as Earth Month and National Garden Month. In addition, April is marked by the “Pink Moon,” signifying the arrival of spring, and in a modern spiritual context, a time for reflection, personal growth, and planning actions that align with one’s goals.

At a time when the legal profession is increasingly called on to demonstrate integrity, steadiness, and public service, Scott Collins stands out as a lawyer who lives those values every day. His career has been shaped not by a desire for recognition, but by a quiet, persistent commitment to doing things the right way—thoroughly, ethically, and with genuine respect for the people around him.

Litigation is as much about clarity as it is about advocacy. As an advocate, you need to learn complex concepts, scrutinize them as critic and cross-examiner, and teach them as a persuader. You must cross and then bridge the chasm between sophisticated technical concepts and your audience’s everyday understanding to solve the problem of misunderstanding before it starts.

A young woman calls your law office right before the end of the day. She is quite distraught and tells you she is very worried that she will be homeless soon. Her husband of nineteen years filed for divorce two weeks ago, right after the last payment was made on their twenty-year mortgage. Immediately after filing, he moved in with his (unknown to the wife until after she was served with the divorce paperwork) girlfriend of four years, whom he has been apparently supporting through her master’s degree program. 

The King County Bar Association’s Leadership Development & Nominations Committee is pleased to announce the following slate of KCBA members for open positions on the Board of Trustees, effective July 1. Additional candidates may run for any of these offices through the petition process prescribed in the bylaws. If no petitions are received by April 10, the slate will be deemed elected.

This month let’s get back to basics. Everyone involved in litigation needs a primer on mediation from time to time. Whether you are new to this process or a seasoned professional, it is a good idea to remind ourselves why we do this.