What sparked the creation of a resource that would become indispensable to generations of lawyers? How did a snowy day in the early 1970s lead to the birth of the Washington Lawyer’s Practice Manual? And how has a project that began as three volumes for young lawyers grown into a cornerstone of professional development and a vital source of support for all attorneys?

From the courtroom to the classroom — and even a Taekwondo studio, improving a chagi — Ada K. Wong brings her unwavering dedication, intent presence, and good humor. Nicole Gainey explores the motivation behind Ada’s commitment to her clients, colleagues, and community.

Barbara Engstrom highlights tools for tracking the rapid pace of federal regulatory change in Drinking From a Firehose. She points to resources monitoring climate, health care, and immigration shifts, as well as dwindling government data. Librarians, researchers and "regular Joes" are working to preserve public information and help us stay informed.

In How Safetyism Shapes Today’s Culture of Risk Aversion, Thomas O’Toole and Kevin Boully examine how jurors increasingly expect perfect safety and punish defendants who fall short. They urge trial lawyers to simplify defense narratives, align with jurors’ values, and adapt to shifting attitudes that link safety to personal and political identity.

The glorious Pacific Northwest summer is in full swing, and people are out and about. I hope you are getting a chance to be outside and enjoy events and gatherings, taking an occasional break from the day-to-day grind.

As an association executive, I spend a lot of early mornings before my workday starts catching up on articles about association membership and what associations need to prioritize in 2025. Recommendations include enhancing member value, increasing member engagement, adapting to members’ changing needs, embracing and leveraging technology, diversifying revenue streams, and staying ahead of industry shifts.

Yousri Omar doesn’t credit his career to chance. He credits people. Mentors who invested in him early. Colleagues who made space at the table. Leaders who opened doors before he knew to knock. For him, success has never been a solo pursuit — it’s been a collective endeavor shaped by trust, kindness, and the influence of those who believed in his potential. 

In The Merits and Pitfalls of Starting Too High at Mediation, Eric Gillett explores the negotiation strategy of using high opening numbers. While anchoring high can shape expectations and signal strength, it also could alienate the other side, waste time, or damage credibility. Gillett offers advice for when a bold opening makes sense — and when it backfires.

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.

It’s August, and things are quieter than usual at Smith Goodfriend. Honestly, it’s usually pretty quiet here — most of the time, we’re all in our offices (or at home), researching the law, reviewing the trial court record, writing or (my favorite) editing pleadings or briefs. Some days, only cries of joy (or anguish) are heard when a ruling or decision arrives via email to break the studious silence. But August remains a slower time of year, even now when the courts (or at least the filing portals) are “open” 24/7.1