The purpose of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council is to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and legal system and address the problems of bias, systemic inequities and underrepresentation in the legal profession. The DEI Council was formerly known as the Diversity Committee. The change was approved by the Board of Governors in July 2022. The change of becoming a council broadens the membership and allows WSBA members with pro bono status and judicial status as well as law students, staff and faculty and members of the public. To learn more about the specific work we do, please read the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Council Charter.
The WSBA collaborates with the DEI Council, Minority Bar Associations and other members of the legal profession to develop and present a variety of CLEs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion issues.
The mission of the WSBA is to serve the public and members of the Bar, to ensure integrity of the profession and to champion justice. Guided by the mission and under the authority of the Supreme Court as outlined in General Rule 12.2, the WSBA works to promote diversity and equality in the courts and the legal profession and promote an effective legal system accessible to all. The WSBA has signed on to the Race Equity and Justice Initiative’s Acknowledgements and Commitments, which provides further guidance on how the organization approaches equity and inclusion. The WSBA’s Equity and Justice Team delivers on WSBA’s mission and commitments by:
- Serving the diverse members of the public, especially those who cannot access justice because of poverty or other forms of marginalization.
- Equipping and supporting WSBA members to serve the public, especially those who cannot access justice because of poverty or other forms of marginalization.
- Advancing a legal profession that is diverse and inclusive for members and prospective members especially those who are underrepresented in the legal profession
- Supporting the WSBA to operate in ways that align with its stated values of justice, diversity, inclusion and equity.
- The Equity and Justice Team manages the WSBA’s diversity, equity and inclusion and pro bono and public service programs, and also supports the work of the Access to Justice Board, Council on Public Defense, Diversity Committee and the Pro Bono and Public Service Committee.
WSBA Sections
The Civil Rights Law Section sponsors CLEs on civil rights law and provides a forum for activities with civil rights organizations throughout the state. The Section focuses on the practice and policy of civil rights law, which includes the rights of racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual-orientation minorities; immigrants; those with a mental or physical disability; and the impoverished; as well as issues regarding freedom of speech; freedom from state-promulgated religion; and privacy rights.
The Indian Law Section provides a forum for practitioners representing clients affected by Indian law. Federal, tribal, and state laws; executive and administrative actions; and court decisions produce a complex and rapidly evolving array of law that affects legal services. The Section schedules CLE programs on subjects that provide information to practitioners representing clients affected by Indian law. Section members also receive a newsletter highlighting recent developments in Indian law.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Law Section strives to: support understanding among WSBA members of the legal needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents of Washington; assist LGBT residents and those who represent them; better understand how their legal needs can be met; support research, education, and collaboration by section members on issues of sexual orientation and gender identification; promote the study of LGBT law and report on changing law and regulations as they affect LGBT people and communities; assist in legislative work undertaken within the scope of GR 12; and act as a liaison between the WSBA, its Board of Governors, LGBT organizations, and the public.
Local Bar Associations
The Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW) is a professional association of attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students who are interested and involved in matters of concern to the bar and Asian Pacific American community in Washington. For more information, or to join ABAW, please contact:
The Seattle Cardozo Society is a society for Jewish attorneys. The Society sponsors programs that integrate legal and Jewish concerns to demonstrate the unique contributions the legal profession can make to improve the Jewish community. Programs sponsored by the society are open to all attorneys and their guest and to others who share common goals or interest. For more information, or to join The Cardozo Society, please contact [email protected]
The Filipino Lawyers of Washington (FLOW) is a professional association of lawyers in the Filipino community dedicated to fostering the exchange of ideas and information among and between its members and other members of the legal profession, the judiciary and the community; promoting the professional growth of its members; assisting in efforts to diversify the legal profession; cooperating with other organizations of minority attorneys; celebrating Filipino culture; and providing a vehicle and forum for the expression of opinions and positions about current social, political, economic, legal or other matters or events that concern the members of the association. For more information, or to join FLOW, please contact [email protected].
The mission of the Korean American Bar Association of Washington (KABA) is to provide professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities to its members and serve the community as a resource by hosting professional, educational, and community events. KABA is committed to leadership, community, and service. For more information, or to join KABA, please email [email protected].
Formerly the Hispanic Bar of Washington, the purpose of the Latina/Latino Bar Association of Washington (LBAW) is to represent the concerns and goals of Latina/o people of the State of Washington. Membership is available to attorneys, judicial officers, law faculty, legal staff, and students. For general information, or to join LBAW, please contact [email protected].
The Loren Miller Bar Association is an affiliate member of the National Bar Association whose purpose is the advancement of the social and economic well-being of its largely African-American membership; improving relations between the legal profession and the community at large; promoting understanding, goodwill and cooperation among lawyers and the interests of the legal profession; aiding in reforms for the economic and social welfare of all people in a manner consistent with the principles of a free democratic society; and improving the educational, social and economic status of the African-American community to eliminate discrimination.
The Middle Eastern Bar Association of Washington (MELAW) is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide professional growth opportunities for law students and attorneys of Middle Eastern descent. This organization also serves as a voice for Middle Eastern lawyers and educates the public on issues faced by individuals of Middle Eastern descent. The Middle Eastern Bar Association works with other Middle Eastern groups in the community, hosts social events, and offers a legal clinic designed to help people of Middle Eastern descent deal with legal problems they face. The legal clinic is one of the most important services offered by this organization and it employs volunteer attorneys who respond to questions submitted by low-income members of the community.
MAMA Seattle is an organization dedicated to empowering attorney mothers and facilitating their success in the legal profession. MAMA Seattle hosts monthly networking events and brown bag lunches and maintains an active listserv, which serves as a valuable resource to members. The brown bag lunches feature panel presentations of particular interest to mother attorneys, addressing topics such marketing, business development, as re-entry into the legal market, time management, and work life balance. MAMA Seattle's networking events, which members attend with their children, provide a venue for mother attorneys to network, socialize, and problem solve in a supportive and child-friendly environment. For more information, or to join MAMA Seattle, please contact [email protected].
The Northwest Indian Bar Association (NIBA) is an organization of Indian attorneys and judges in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, which aspires to improve the legal and political landscape for the Pacific Northwest Indian community. For more information, or to join NIBA, please contact:
The purpose of the Pierce County Minority Bar Association is to facilitate professional development and relationships among the various minority attorneys and legal professionals who reside or practice in Pierce County. It also seeks to foster diversity in the legal community and serve as a conscience of Pierce County minority communities on legal issues affecting them. For more information, or to join PCMBA, please contact the president and treasurer listed below.
The LGBT Bar Association of Washington, affectionately known as "QLaw," is an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) legal professionals and their friends, serving as a voice for LGBT lawyers on issues relating to diversity and equality in the legal profession, in the courts, and under the law. To join QLaw, please contact [email protected] (membership inquiries only). For more information, please contact:
The Seattle Chinese Bar Association (SCBA) is a non-profit professional association of attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals in the Chinese community. SCBA is dedicated to facilitating and cultivating professional and personal relationships among its members and the community by fostering the exchange of ideas and information. To learn more, please visit their website.
The Slavic Bar Association of Washington (SBAW) is a professional association of legal practitioners and law students with ties to or interests in Slavic cultures and languages. SBAW is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes: to support members of the Bar and law students with Slavic ties; to educate others about Slavic ethnicity, culture, history, and people; to aid the Slavic community and those within it aspiring to enter the legal field. For more information, or to join SBAW, please contact:
The South Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABAW) is an organization of South Asian legal professionals in the Northwest dedicated to providing access to legal resources and support for issues relevant to the South Asian community. SABAW is also committed to identifying and advancing the areas where economic, social and political interests intersect with South Asian legal issues. Finally, SABAW serves as a liaison between South Asian legal professionals and the legal community at large. For more information, or to join SABAW, please contact [email protected].
Like our state’s official MBAs, the Spokane Diversity Section is committed to promoting inclusiveness through focusing on recruitment and retention of attorneys of color and diverse ethnic background.
The Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington is a legal society which was formed in 2005 for Vietnamese American attorneys, law students and friends who share its common vision. VABAW strives for legal excellence by facilitating and cultivating both professional and personal relationships among its members, the community and the judiciary. VABAW's goal is to provide mutual support for attorneys in the advancement of their careers, be a trusted guide and resource for students who aspire towards the legal profession, serve as a voice for the local Vietnamese American community, and represent Vietnamese American attorneys within the State Bar. For more information, or to join VABAW, please contact the 2024 president listed below:
The Washington Attorneys with Disabilities Association is a minority bar association serving as the voice of attorneys and law students with disabilities in the state of Washington. WADA’s mission is to promote the meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the legal profession; to eliminate the barriers to inclusion in the legal profession experienced by people with disabilities; and to promote the careers and professional development of WADA’s membership through mentorship, networking, alliances, and cultivation of a strong and vibrant community. Visit the WADA website or join us on the WADA list serve for more information about WADA activities. For more information, or to join WADA, please contact:
The Washington State Veterans Bar Association is a networking organization for attorneys and law students who have served in the United States Armed Forces. We are a non-partisan and veteran-centric organization. We seek to provide a voice for the 650,000 veterans of Washington State and address legal, political, and social issues facing veterans. For more information, or to join WSVBA, please visit our website or contact:
Washington Women Lawyers is Washington's largest organization dedicated to furthering the full integration of women in the legal profession and promoting equal rights and opportunities for women. Through the combined resources of a statewide organization and a network of local chapters, Washington Women Lawyers offers programming and support for women lawyers throughout the state. For more information, or to join WWL, please visit our website or contact [email protected].