WSBA to rename 'Young Lawyer' liaison role; sections to approve cleanup edits
Loading...
Summary
Following a board-approved bylaw amendment, WSBA staff will send redlined bylaw edits to each section asking them to replace references to 'Young Lawyer' liaison with 'New Member' liaison and to approve those cleanups at upcoming executive committee meetings.
WSBA staff told section leaders that a July board action amended the association’s bylaws to redefine ‘‘new member’’ and to rename the Young Lawyer liaison roles. The change took effect Oct. 1.
Vanessa Sweeney, member services and engagement staff, said the amendment defines a new member as ‘‘an active WSBA member, including lawyers, LTTs, and LPOs within their first 10 years of admittance to the bar.’’ Julianne Unite, member services and engagement manager, said staff reviewed section bylaws and prepared redlined edits for roughly half of the sections that still referenced the former title. Sections are asked to vote to approve cleanup edits at their next executive committee meeting so staff can submit the updates to the Board of Governors.
What sections should do: Staff recommended that sections look for related references—subcommittee names or budget line items using the term ‘‘young lawyer’’—and consider renaming or updating those items to ‘‘new member’’ where appropriate. Sections that do not reference the role in their bylaws were not required to take action.
Why it matters: The change aligns the WSBA’s outreach and structure with broader membership categories and clarifies who qualifies as a new member for liaison and at-large governor representation. Staff offered to assist sections with the redline and to help prepare the required approval votes for Board of Governors review.
Julianne said members should expect emails from Carolyn McGregor with the redline version and supporting instructions; sections will then vote to send the cleanup edits to the Board of Governors.
