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Nam Nguyen, candidate for WSBA District 10 Board of Governors, emphasizes AI policy and access to justice
Summary
Nam Nguyen, running for the Washington State Bar Association District 10 Board of Governors, said he will prioritize policies on artificial intelligence and expanding access to legal services, and pledged continued availability to members.
Nam Nguyen, a candidate for the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) District 10 Board of Governors, said he is running to improve policy and support attorneys and outlined two primary priorities: managing emerging technology such as artificial intelligence and expanding access to legal services.
Nguyen, who said he has practiced law for 15 years and spent much of the past decade at the Attorney General's Office, told attendees he has worked in private firms and in-house and has volunteered locally. "I am running because I love practicing law," he said, adding that he has "answered every email and met with every member with a question, an idea, or a complaint." He said if reelected he would continue to make himself available to colleagues in the district.
Nguyen said the WSBA already has a task force examining AI and other emerging technologies. "AI is an emerging technology that has the potential to change the legal profession," he said. He said his goal is "to review the findings and recommendation of the task force to develop thoughtful policies and regulation with the goal of ensuring that these tools are an asset to attorneys and to protect the public and consumers." Nguyen did not provide specific proposed rules or regulatory language.
On access to justice, Nguyen said retirement among attorneys has reduced availability, a problem he said is especially acute in rural communities. He said he plans to continue the WSBA's work with the courts, the legislature and other institutions to explore laws and policies that could, for example, provide incentives for attorneys to work in particular counties.
Nguyen also said he has brought issues raised by local lawyers to the board, including concerns from military-affiliated attorneys about dues for personnel not working in the state. He described his local involvement, saying he lives and works in the Olympia area and volunteers with local legal clinics. He said he currently serves as treasurer and as counsel on the board of the Family Support Center of South Sound, which he described as a nonprofit serving financially disadvantaged families.
He closed by returning to his availability pledge: "If reelected, I plan on continuing to do so."
