In her final President’s Column, Sidney Tribe reflects on the shared mission that connects KCBA’s diverse legal community. She emphasizes that solidarity does not require uniformity, but instead grows stronger when people with different perspectives work toward common goals. The column highlights KCBA’s work over the past year to protect the rule of law, expand access to justice, support students, and serve vulnerable community members. Tribe closes by encouraging members to carry that spirit of common cause forward in service of positive change.

The school year is ending and one final project looms. The most boring class in history. You remember it; can picture it. The teacher, the classroom, the wooden door with the tiny rectangle window. Peek at the class notes, maybe talk to a classmate and work as hard as possible to find the easiest way to get the grade, and move on with your life. You don’t learn the material; you learn how to get the grade you want. Step into the jury room after the closing bell and you’ll witness a familiar story: the verdict isn’t the last piece in a painstaking logic puzzle.

Come for the CLE credits, stay for the community.

KCBA will be hosting its first annual KCBA Conference this September. We hope you’ll join us! The conference will be designed for maximum networking opportunities, sprinkled with timely CLE content that’s relevant for all practice areas.

Tentative plenary session topics:

• A.I. Policies for Law Offices
• Attorney Wellness—Now a WSBA Licensing Requirement?
• Innovation in Attorney Fee Structures
• Social Media Marketing for Attorneys
• Insurance Coverage for the Non-Insurance Attorney
• Legal Writing Master Class
• Update on WA Alternative Pathways to Licensure

This conference will be open to members only, so be sure you renew/join in June. Those who renew before June 30 will receive early access and discounts for the conference.

In addition to CLE, the Conference will feature complimentary headshots, section/division-specific networking opportunities, exhibitor tables, law-related apparel and other goodies for sale, and an optional dine-around lunch September 18.

We are excited to see you at this inaugural event! 

Interested in speaking at the conference? Send us a proposal to cle@kcba.org by July 31 for consideration.

Proposal Guidelines: Please limit your proposal to 800 words, include information about all proposed speakers/panelists, and explain how your topic is relevant to most areas of law.

Throughout my career, I have always belonged to a professional association. They weren’t bar associations, but they were membership organizations that aligned with the stage of my career at the time.

Early in my career, I worked as director of conventions and seminars for the California Chiropractic Association and was a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Through MPI, I learned from peers across the industry, participated in valuable educational programs, and developed relationships with hotel representatives who became trusted partners as I planned meetings throughout California. Those connections made me better at my job and opened doors I never would have found on my own.

Kyle Levine’s professional path is rooted in a lifelong connection to aviation, first through his family and later through his own experience as a licensed pilot, before he ultimately built a legal career at Alaska Airlines. The profile traces how his lifelong connection to aviation, legal skill, and love of complex regulated work shaped a nearly two-decade career at Alaska. It also highlights Levine’s collaborative leadership style, deep respect for company culture, and ability to bring clarity in high-stakes moments. Through crisis, acquisitions, and even Prince-inspired legal briefings, Levine remains firmly connected to the industry that first captivated him.

Eric Gillett reframes mediation as an opportunity for cooperation rather than capitulation. He argues that lawyers can resolve cases more efficiently by gathering facts early, sharing key information voluntarily, and preparing opposing counsel for meaningful settlement discussions. Gillett encourages attorneys to avoid unnecessary discovery battles when informal exchanges can help both sides evaluate the case sooner and at lower cost. The result is a more practical, resolution-focused approach that preserves advocacy while reducing conflict.

House Bill 1501 creates new written-response obligations for Washington community organizations, requiring substantive answers to certain owner inquiries within 30 days. The change is part of a broader legislative push toward greater transparency for condominium associations, HOAs, and other common interest communities. But the new law also leaves practical questions for association boards, including how to manage unclear deadline extensions, attorney-fee exposure, and repeated inquiries from owners. Associations that adopt written policies now will be better positioned to set expectations, respond, efficiently, and avoid unnecessary conflict.

Washington courts have long held that interlocutory review is disfavored because piecemeal appeals undermine the prompt, economical resolution of legal disputes.[1] For that reason, interlocutory trial court decisions rarely justify interrupting the proceedings for immediate appeal. RAP 2.2 reflects this policy by allowing litigants to appeal as a matter of right only after the trial court enters final judgment or a similar order.
 

The 2025–26 membership year was a special one! Not least because the Member Services Department added 2 new staff members: David Swidler joined us as Events Coordinator, and Habtamu Kabeto joined us as our new Sections Coordinator. Welcome!
 

Are you a mid-career attorney looking for ways to build your leadership skills, do good work, and meet a variety of dynamic attorneys and judges? Are you a newer attorney looking to meet new people and potentially find a mentor? How about a retired attorney with time to give back to your profession? If so, join a committee!