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An idea that won the 2018 MBA Hackathon has led to a new user-friendly online system for pro bono attorneys in Oregon a to find legal aid cases and projects that fit the types of issues they are excited about working on.

At the 2018 Hackathon, Team Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) was given the task to identify ways to harness technology to connect attorneys to pro bono opportunities. The team developed a website to increase LASO’s ability to communicate to the legal community about pro bono opportunities, simplify the referral process and track pro bono cases. Since the MBA Hackathon, LASO has been working towards implementing such a website.

“ProBonoOregon,” which launched in August as part of OregonAdvocates.org, lets attorneys quickly select from a menu of available cases and projects offered by legal aid offices from across the state. The new system can be found by clicking on the ProBonoOregon link featured on the home page of OregonAdvocates.org, or can be bookmarked directly at www.oregonadvocates.org/probonooregon.

“Oregon is only the second state in the country to use this new system on a statewide basis,” said Eli Mattern, CEO of SavvySuit.com, the software company which pioneered the concept in collaboration with the Florida Bar Foundation. The Florida version of the system, known as “Florida Pro Bono Matters,” was launched Fall 2017 and can be found online at thefloridabarfoundation.org/florida-pro-bono-matters.

ProBonoOregon requires no password or pre-registration from volunteer attorneys who want to help bring civil justice to low-income Oregonians. To participate, an attorney just has to click on the “Interested” link displayed at the top of each case or project description. Legal aid staff then will be in touch within two business days to check for conflicts of interest and to further discuss the case or project with the attorney before a final match is made.

Cases and projects offered on the site will be updated weekly. “Case cards displayed on the system will each be topped by an ’at-a-glance‘ headline that will let attorneys quickly scroll though the available opportunities to find something that aligns with their interest. Once a case is placed, it will be removed from the screen.

By making it easier to search for available pro bono cases without the need for preregistration, ProBonoOregon expects to repeat Florida’s success in encouraging new pro bono volunteers to step forward. In the first year following launch of Florida Pro Bono Matters, more than 200 clients were served by pro bono attorneys who used the site to volunteer.

If an attorney sees a case offered on the site that they are not able to handle themselves, the site also allows the attorney to easily forward the information to a friend or colleague who they believe might be interested. The site also lets attorneys filter the available cases by searching for the county name where the case originates, or by subject matter or other key factors.

Pro bono opportunities offered on the site will continue to be screened, coordinated and supported through local legal aid offices. In the Portland Regional Office for instance, volunteers will still learn about pro bono opportunities by visiting Oregon Advocates at: www.oregonadvocates.org/volunteer/item.8215-LASO_Portland_Regional_Office or contact Jill Mallery or Danielle Ramos, the attorneys who run Portland’s volunteer projects. Volunteer Lawyers Project with the Portland Regional Office of LASO, including projects such as Violence Project, Family Law Forms Help, Expungement Clinic, and Bankruptcy Clinic, will continue to operate as usual. No action is required for attorneys who currently volunteer with the Portland Regional Office.

But many of the opportunities offered on the ProBonoOregon site also will be “location independent,” meaning that attorneys will be free to accept cases that reflect their interests from among clients in need statewide in addition to situations that may be available locally. Many pro bono cases and projects statewide can be handled by phone or videoconferencing from wherever the attorney happens to be - no travel required.

Future plans for the new ProBonoOregon site also include offering pro bono opportunities for law students and paralegals who are interested in assisting volunteer attorneys with legal research, fact investigation, document review, drafting of pleadings or other case activities.

OregonAdvocates.org, a joint website sponsored by LASO, Oregon Law Center and the Center for NonProfit Legal Services, also will continue to offer pro bono opportunities through the Pro Bono Oregon Listserv for attorneys who prefer to learn about available cases that way. The Pro Bono Oregon Listserv, however, requires pre-registration and a password. Specialty listservs also are available for cases involving farmworkers and for cases involving low-income taxpayer disputes with the IRS or with the Oregon Department of Revenue. For more information, please click on the “Listservs” link at the top of the OregonAdvocates.org website.

To contact Jill Mallery or Danielle Ramos for Portland area pro bono opportunities, please call 503.224.4086 or email jill.mallery@lasoregon.org or danielle.ramos@lasoregon.org.

To contact Ed Marks for pro bono opportunities outside of the Portland area, please call 503.471.1124, or email Ed.Marks@laoregon.org.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon’s (LASO) Domestic Violence Project is a volunteer lawyer program where survivors of domestic violence are matched with pro bono attorneys for representation in contested restraining order hearings. LASO offers a variety of other volunteer opportunities that are OSB certified pro bono. It also offers free PLF coverage to pro bono practitioners.

Joshua Stadtler, a Partner at Dunn Carney, LLP, has been volunteering with LASO’s Domestic Violence Project for years. He is committed to serving his community and has done so through his work in the United States Peace Corps where he taught English in South Africa. Josh is a former YLS Pro Bono Committee member (2014-16). He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Portland Homeless Family Solutions, and also co-chairing Dunn Carney’s Pro Bono Committee, which manages his firm’s participation in a legal clinic representing indigent clients in collaboration with LASO. He continues to maintain his own pro bono practice, including representing survivors of domestic violence.

Josh was drawn to the Domestic Violence Project due to the meaningful impact such representation offers the clientele, the challenging subject matter, and litigation experience. Through volunteering for the Domestic Violence Project, Josh gained experience developing client relationships, and also further developed his ability to issue spot, learn the law, prepare opening and closing statements, and conduct direct and cross examination.

While it is healthy to feel a sense of trepidation when handling novel issues, the best way to learn something is by doing it. Josh stated he developed a lot professionally through his volunteer work by figuring out which questions to ask, and developing relationships with people that could help answers those questions. To this day, even as a partner at his firm, he seeks advice from attorneys whose input he values, some of which he developed relationships with volunteering. Josh shared that LASO’s attorneys are always available to consult with volunteer attorneys, provide valuable input, and share its wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources. If you are looking for meaningful volunteer work, are seeking litigation experience, but cannot commit to taking long-term cases, then LASO’s Domestic Violence Project is right for you.

Josh believes volunteering is an important part of being an attorney due to the significant access to justice gap. It may even help attorneys find meaning in their career, if they don’t find it in their day jobs. He stated that anyone that has a passing interest in pro bono work should do it as much as they can.

Josh encourages new attorneys to try practicing and volunteering in different areas of law to find an area that brings meaning and enjoyment. It doesn’t matter what your practice area is. Volunteering for LASO’s Domestic Violence Project will help you develop client management skills, provide litigation experience, and support you while handling unfamiliar terrain.

To learn more about how to get involved with LASO, please contact Jill Mallery at 503.224.4086 or jill.mallery@lasoregon.org or Danielle Ramos at 503.224.4086 or danielle.ramos@lasoregon.org

Christine Sargent did not establish her burgeoning legal career in Portland by accident. When she arrived in Portland, after moving all over the country during her childhood, Christine knew it was the place she wanted to call home. Although Christine describes herself as an introvert, she is not daunted by a challenge and reached out to others to build a community in Portland. As a recent law school graduate, Christine exercised her networking skills and began participating with the YLS.

Christine’s family moved frequently during her childhood due to her father’s service in the US Marines. As a result, she developed skills for creating meaningful connections with others and community building. Reaching out to new people can be intimidating, but Christine consciously put herself in uncomfortable circumstances in order to establish relationships. She exercised these skills while attending Portland State University as an undergraduate, and was impressed by the result. She took advantage of a PSU program called Explore the Law, which connected her to female attorney mentors Lissa Kaufman and Andrea Thompson. Lissa and Andrea provided examples of successful women attorneys, and helped convince Christine that she could use her community building skills to establish a successful legal career for herself in Portland. After earning a degree from PSU in 2014, she enrolled in Lewis & Clark Law School and graduated in 2017. While in law school, she externed for Judge Stacie Beckerman, which cemented her desire to practice law in Portland. Christine continued building a strong professional community by relying on her ability to forge new relationships with powerful mentors who, in her words, ultimately played (and continue to play) a critical role in helping her achieve her career goals.

As a new lawyer, Christine knew that she would need to exercise her networking skills once again. She attended a few MBA YLS events and recognized that YLS involvement was a great way to continue building a robust professional community. The YLS provided opportunities to network at social events and even greater involvement as a committee member. Christine began attending YLS events regularly. While she admits she was out of her comfort zone at the first couple of events, she knew that continued participation would generate positive results. Indeed, before the end of her first year, she was familiar with YLS members and was encouraged to get more involved. She joined the YLS CLE Committee during her first year of practice, and after that two-year term ended, decided to serve another term on the YLS Membership Committee. For Christine, the benefits of YLS involvement became evident so quickly they almost surprised her. Christine explained, “before I realized it, I had a network of friends and professionals that I trusted and relied upon.” Her YLS community provided resources for navigating career growth and developing professionalism.

Given Christine’s fearless approach to networking, it should be no surprise that she also loves to travel. While in high school she traveled to Oman and was imbued with respect and appreciation for diverse cultures. She and her husband travel often to Greece to visit his family. They also recently traveled to Islay, Scotland, to celebrate their shared love of scotch. Although she loves to travel, her return to Portland at the end of every trip is the sweetest moment. “The first breath of air and the first drink of Portland water always make me so grateful to call this place home.”

Christine is an associate with Littler Mendelson, where she practices employment law. When she is not working, being a rock star YLS member, or traveling, you can find Christine attending comedy shows - one of her favorites is the CEJ Laf-Off – or watching the Blazers. She also is an avid tennis player and dedicated NYT crossword puzzler.

LOCAL RESOURCES:

Multnomah Bar Association
www.mbabar.org/probono 
Take the Pro Bono Pledge and find information on local pro bono opportunities and how to create a customized pro bono policy for your office.

Oregon State Bar
www.osbar.org/probono 
Find information on pro bono in Oregon that includes volunteer opportunities, pro bono hours reporting, attorney resources, PLF coverage for pro bono, pro bono committees and types of membership status based on pro bono activities.

Oregon Advocates
www.oregonadvocates.org
This statewide advocate’s website is sponsored by the legal aid community in Oregon and features a substantive law library as well as free CLE seminars for pro bono attorneys. Membership is free. Once you are a member, sign up for ProBonoOregon, a weekly listserv offering pro bono cases for attorneys. You also can easily view selected pro bono opportunities from around the state at the new ProBonoOregon webpages, located on the OregonAdvocates site at www.oregonadvocates.org/probonooregon.

Oregon Law Help
www.oregonlawhelp.org
Free legal information to low-income Oregonians is provided through this one stop statewide website sponsored by legal aid offices in Oregon. Self-help handbooks are available for download by laypersons and feature applicable statutes, remedies, forms and sample letters. These handbooks are great primers for the basics in some common areas of law.

211 Social Services Referral
www.211info.org
211 provides assistance in finding health and community organizations in Oregon and SW Washington. Professional intake staff is available 24 hours a day by dialing 211 on your phone, or access the referral system can be accessed through the website.

NATIONAL RESOURCES:

American Bar Association
www.americanbar.org/groups/probono_public_service 
www.americanbar.org/groups/centerpro-bono
The ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service and the ABA’s Center for Pro Bono are national sources for pro bono information and resources.

The Pro Bono Institute
www.probonoinst.org
The institute specializes in supporting the pro bono work of law firms and corporate legal departments.

Pro Bono Net
www.probono.net
This site provides regional, national and international resources for attorneys working to assist low-income clients.

Dear Expert,
I have been dealing with an opposing counsel who does not return my phone calls, emails, or correspondence. Or, if they do, it is late in the evening, which is not much help. I need to get long outstanding documents and start scheduling depositions. Help!
-Ignored and Annoyed

Dear Ignored,
Although clients might be shocked at how some attorneys respond to the other side, these sorts of events do happen. When I encounter these lawyers (and sometimes even pro se litigants), I try to keep a reasonable mind about what might be driving their apparent indifference to this case. Reach out to other attorneys to see if they have had similar issues with this person, or if they are currently involved in a case that is taking the opposing counsel’s time away from your matter. However, I still follow a general plan of attack:

Document. Document. Document. Keep a list of all attempted phone calls, and document in a follow-up phone call. If you do by chance or perseverance get them on the phone, try to establish the timelines of which you will expect discovery. Follow up with a confirming letter or email and keep track of all agreed deadlines.

Be mindful of court and case deadlines to make sure that this is not an attempt to delay the case or trial. Try not to let these issues go on for too long before ratcheting up. If it takes an outreach effort each day, sometimes that may have to happen. Be careful not to get in the trap of just calling, leaving a voice message, and not getting a response. Vary your methods of outreach with a few phone calls, a letter, and an email. Be mindful not to do it all at once and try not to give the appearance that you are trying to harass anyone. If you are not getting a response, then set reasonable deadlines for a response.

If final steps are in order, be stern but also courteous. If you are going to send a notice of deposition after not hearing back on scheduling, think about a cover letter that says the date is also reasonably flexible, and provide additional days you are available and would be willing to accommodate the party’s schedule.

Before conferring on a motion to compel or even filing a motion, consider if it might motivate the other side if you send them a courtesy draft and noting the date you will file your motion if you cannot confer and resolve the issues.

Presiding Judge Update
Judge Bushong’s first two-year term as presiding is coming to an end. He has agreed to serve another term.

New Judges
Judge Steff an Alexander started on August 12. He replaced Judge Karin Immergut whose appointment to the federal bench has been confirmed. Judge Angela Lucero started on September 16, replacing the retired Judge Kenneth Walker. Morgan Wren Long will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen McKnight and F.G. “Jamie” Troy II will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Katherine Tennyson. Currently, the family law dockets have been covered by Plan B and other judges as best as the court is able. 

The judicial conference is scheduled for October 21-23 this year. Keep in mind there won’t be trials during that time as the judges will be gone.

New Courthouse Update
The court continues to plan for the transition to the new courthouse. The court created a taskforce, chaired by now-retired Judge John Wittmayer, to develop a plan for judges’ selection of their courtrooms and chambers in the new courthouse. Under this plan, the 10 family law judges will choose, in order of seniority, their floor; one family law judge per floor. The remaining judges will choose their floors, then their chambers and courtrooms, based on seniority. The presiding courtroom and chambers will be located on the seventh floor, while most other courtrooms and judicial chambers will be on floors eight through 17. All courtrooms and chambers are similar, but there are differences due to the shape of the building. The courthouse was designed for five judicial chambers and four courtrooms on each of the main court floors.

The court is pleased that the legislature approved the final budget needed to pay for moving expenses and equipment and furnishings, so the court will be able to move in when the building is ready. Judge Bushong offered thanks to the MBA and all who conveyed to the legislature their support for the new courthouse and the Oregon Judicial Department budget. The court is now working with the design team to finalize and order the remaining equipment and furniture for the new building.

The court is TENTATIVELY planning to move into the new courthouse June 11-14, 2020. Under this plan, the court would be closed June 11 and 12 (Thursday and Friday) with the move completed through the weekend and the court opening for business in the new location on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. 

There are still variables which could cause the schedule to shift, however the bar should be aware of the potential move date, and the weeks before and after, when trial dates are requested. There will be criminal cases that will have to go out; however, it would be good for those with more flexible dates to keep the move in mind when setting trials.

Good progress is being made on the completion of construction, and the county is planning a tentative ribbon cutting ceremony for June 10, 2020. Judges were able to tour the courthouse in September. There will eventually be public tours of the new courthouse coordinated with the Multnomah County Sheriff ’s Office. Currently, the building is still very much an active construction site and public tours are not feasible.

East County Courthouse Update
The sheriff originally planned to eliminate security from the East County Courthouse starting in July due to budget cuts. In response, the court consolidated dockets to minimize the use of the East County Courthouse to reduce the risk to the public and court staff . By statute, certain misdemeanors and violations that occur on the Eastside must be heard at the East County Courthouse; those hearings have continued to take place two days per week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The county has temporarily kept security officers at the facility five days per week, so the building currently remains open for business Monday through Friday. Discussions are ongoing and there is a desire to maintain security screening and enforcement at the building. The court is committed to using the East County Courthouse to serve East County residents to the greatest extent possible if the building is adequately secured.

Judge Bushong’s Tips of the Month for Ex Parte

1. Lawyers appearing at ex parte should bring a motion and proposed order, and (in many instances) a supporting declaration. This is needed to create a record of what occurred in the case file.
2. If there is a “DR” in the case number, it is a domestic relations case and counsel must go to family law ex parte, not presiding court ex parte.
3. It is not necessary to bring extra copies to ex parte; attorneys are expected to download a signed copy of the order from OECI if needed. The court ordinarily will not provide conformed copies for attorneys.
4. Attorneys requesting a temporary restraining order ex parte are strongly encouraged to have a judge’s copy delivered to presiding court chambers before the ex parte hearing. That will give the presiding judge an opportunity to read the materials before addressing the matter at ex parte.

The annual Pro Bono Fair and associated Celebration and free CLE seminars will take place this year on Thursday, October 24 at the World Trade Center in downtown Portland. Celebrate not only the most recent winners of Oregon’s Pro Bono Challenge but also 30 years of Oregon leading the way on pro bono. This is a triple pro bono anniversary year - the 30th anniversary of the OSB Pro Bono Aspirational Standard, the 20th anniversary of the Pro Bono Challenge Awards, and the 15th anniversary of the first Oregon Pro Bono Honor Roll.

On October 27, 1989, the Oregon Pro Bono Aspirational Standard was adopted at the OSB Annual Meeting. Although the general concept that it is an honorable thing for attorneys to take on pro bono work has long been part of the profession, having bar associations explicitly say lawyers should do pro bono work was new.

“Each lawyer in Oregon should endeavor to perform 80 hours of pro bono services annually. Of this total, the lawyer should endeavor to devote 20 to 40 hours or to handle two cases involving the direct provision of legal services to the poor, without an expectation of compensation. If a lawyer is unable to provide direct legal services to the poor, the lawyer should endeavor to make a comparable financial contribution to an organization that provides or coordinates the provision of direct legal services to the poor.” The Oregon State Bar Aspirational Standard: OSB Bylaw 13.1

Inspired in part by Oregon’s aspirational standard and in part by similar efforts in a handful of other states, the American Bar Association developed their Model Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1. From that model rule, pro bono aspirational standards have been adopted in most states.

On September 30, 1999, nine years and 11 months after the Aspirational Standard was adopted, the Oregon New Lawyers Division of the OSB presented the first Oregon Pro Bono Challenge Awards, recognizing the attorneys and firms who gave the most time to pro bono in the prior year, 1998. The concept was simple: recognition for pro bono work inspires more pro bono work and lets lawyers know they are not alone in their efforts to help provide justice for all.

In 2004, the OSB conducted its first membership-wide collection of voluntary reports of pro bono time provided in the prior year. Attorneys who met the aspirational standard were listed in the Bar Bulletin as part of the Pro Bono Honor Roll. In the first year, 96 attorneys reported meeting the aspirational standard. This year, 312 reported meeting the standard.

The data from pro bono reports made between 2004 and 2019 shows the commitment Oregon attorneys have to justice for all. During that period, Oregon attorneys have given time worth over $161 million to pro bono work. The data also shows that when times get tough, Oregon attorneys step up. Between 2007 and 2008, as the economy collapsed into the great recession, the amount of time Oregon attorneys gave to direct representation pro bono work nearly doubled and remained significantly elevated through 2012.

This is the 30th anniversary of the day Oregon attorneys decided that lawyers should do pro bono work; we now know that when given a goal to aspire to, Oregon attorneys rise to the challenge.

To celebrate this milestone, join us on Thursday, October 24, at the World Trade Center in downtown Portland. Three free CLEs will be presented in the afternoon:

• New Statewide Tenant Protections and Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Housing Clinic - beginning at 2 p.m. 
• Sustainable Pro Bono Advocacy: Why Caring for Yourself While Providing Trauma-Informed Assistance to Your Client is Critical - beginning at 2:30 p.m.
• New Innovations in Corporate Pro Bono: How In- House Lawyers at Amazon, Hewlett Packard, Nike and Other Leading Corporations are Creating New Paths for Access to Justice – beginning at 3 p.m.

At 5 p.m. there will be a reception, awards ceremony, and pro bono opportunity fair. Chief Justice Martha Walters will present the Pro Bono Challenge Awards and OSB President Christine Costantino will recognize the firms, lawyers, and law students who gave the most time to pro bono in the prior year.

To register for the CLEs, please contact Laura Greer at the OSB, lgreer@osbar.org.

Groups of brand new incoming first-year law students trudged down to the Nature Center from Lewis & Clark Law School on a Wednesday afternoon at the end of August, dressed to get dirty. Meanwhile, other 1L students carpooled to locations around the area as far away as Hillsboro and as close as downtown Portland ready to put their hands, brains, and compassion to good use.

Nearly 180 of Lewis & Clark Law School’s newest students participated in an afternoon of service as part of orientation this year, the first time the law school has ever undertaken such a project. All incoming first-year students volunteered at organizations tackling issues in our community such as homelessness, food insecurity, and fire safety.

Professor Sandy Patrick, who conceived of the idea, said, “As lawyers, a large part of what we do is help others, no matter what kind of law we practice. As a law school, we aspire to foster that sense of service in our students. Having students begin their legal career by volunteering with local Portland organizations helps students connect with each other and the local community; maybe more importantly, it instills a sense of purpose and fulfillment that will last a lifetime.”

Tasks ranged from sorting clothes at Dress for Success to sanitizing children’s toys at Ronald McDonald House. Students scanned and filed documents at both of St. Andrew Legal Clinic’s locations. They processed frozen cranberries at the Oregon Food Bank. They helped foster children shop for back-to-school clothing at Project Lemonade. They deep cleaned the community space at Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Resource Center. At Habitat Restore, they processed donations of new and used building materials, furniture and appliances for sale to support Habitat for Humanity home-building projects. “I think it’s really important that we, as law students and (hopefully) future lawyers, engage in the community because a huge part of becoming a lawyer is a desire to advocate for people who perhaps are not able to advocate for themselves,” incoming 1L Mason Pierce thoughtfully remarked. “I think it can be really easy to get lost in the law school bubble and become removed from the needs of the community. Engaging in service is a good reminder of what still needs to be done and what responsibilities we carry as we pursue this profession.”

Incoming 1L Mara Bauermeister was surprised to see how many volunteer opportunities are available in Portland and felt it was a positive experience to learn a little about, and volunteer for, an organization in the area. “It was nice to hear that St. Andrew Legal Clinic in Hillsboro already had such positive experiences with previous Lewis & Clark law students and was enthusiastic about having new law students there to help out. I had never really considered family law before, but seeing how St. Andrew’s Legal Clinic works and how passionate the attorneys are about their jobs was really inspiring.”

Organizations had nothing but good things to say about the new law student volunteers. Tess DeBartolo from JOIN, commented that the students were, “absolutely amazing.” Lewis & Clark thanks the following organizations for hosting our students and providing them with a wonderful introduction to volunteering in the Portland metro area: Dress for Success, Friends of Tryon Creek, Habitat Restore, JOIN, Oregon Food Bank, Project Lemonade, Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, Sexual and Gender Minority Youth C enter, and the St. Andrew Legal Clinic.

A special thank you The Media Foundation, which accommodated our part-time students by bringing a community service project to campus in the evening.

As we enter membership renewal season, I wanted to share a few of the ways in which the MBA is working to expand inclusion and support a thriving, diverse legal community. Relationships, showing up, listening, acknowledging mistakes - these interpersonal interactions are the foundation of an inclusive organization. But there is also a role for specific, measurable goals. It’s hard and imperfect to create a tangible measure for inclusivity - I get that. But, structural change is not achieved through aspirational goals. As we have reviewed our MBA committee charges, our membership promotions, our leadership pipeline, our budget, and how we allocate staff and committee time, we’ve tried to take some concrete steps to build equity into the structure of the MBA.

Supporting Diverse Bar Associations
The MBA has made strong efforts to be a resource for the wonderful diverse bar associations in Oregon. A lot of these exchanges have been facilitated informally without a memorialized “menu” of MBA offerings. In the spirit of making the MBA’s support as broadly available as possible, I wanted to publicize these efforts here. Items that are contingent upon
MBA staff time may not always be available, but we welcome requests from diverse bar associations for any of the following:

• Assistance with mailings (printing letters, postage, envelope stuffing)
• Sponsoring events
• Providing staff or volunteer assistance at events
• Use of the MBA conference room
• Checking and sharing important dates through the MBA calendar
• Posting announcements in the Multnomah Lawyer or E-Newsletter

Other ideas? Feel free to reach out. Each diverse bar association is also assigned MBA liaisons from our board and our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Expanding MBA Inclusion
We want to ensure that we have a membership base, committee participation, and a pipeline to MBA leadership that represents the broadest possible diversity of perspectives and practice areas. Last spring, the MBA Board decided to reduce dues by 50 percent beginning in 2020 for attorneys working for OSB Certified Pro Bono Programs, and attorneys working for Metro Public Defenders and Multnomah Defenders, Inc. Plus, MBA members employed by an OSB Certified Pro Bono Program have long enjoyed free, unlimited access to MBA CLE programming - whether attending in-person or viewing online. As a public interest lawyer, I am thrilled that the MBA has taken this step to make our organization more accessible to legal services attorneys, other nonprofits, and public defenders. 

All 2020 MBA members, by the way, will receive access to the entire catalog of video webcasts recorded during the Fall 2018-Spring 2019 program year. This amounts to 60+ hours of free MCLE accredited programming, available anytime online.

Members of any of the diverse bar associations who have not been MBA members for at least one year can join the MBA for 2020 - for free. If prospective members have questions about how to take advantage of these offers, please contact us. 

Supporting and Tracking Diversity of CLE Presenters
The MBA wants to make sure that our 75+ CLE presentations per year reflect diverse identities and perspectives. That’s long been our goal, but this year we are going to begin tracking our progress. We’ll ask presenters to complete a quick questionnaire stating their gender, race/ethnicity, and whether they identify as LGBTQ or a person with a disability, and we’ll review that data annually.

In my work with various organizations and institutions, I’ve found that what’s tracked tends to correlate with what’s prioritized; tracking data is both an incentive and a measure. This effort corresponds with the Oregon Women Lawyers’ initiative to create a diverse CLE speaker database, which will serve as a source of self-identified experts for the MBA, OWLS, and other organizations.

Accessibility of the Courthouse
Last year, several attorneys with disabilities shared their concerns with our past MBA President, Rima Ghandour about accessing the courthouse. The steps to the entrance (avoidable by pressing a button and waiting for admission at the side door on SW Salmon) and the lack of an alternative space for a security check for people who use mobility devices create serious barriers to accessing our current courthouse. Rima initiated a quarterly meeting with the trial court administrator, Multnomah County Sheriff, and representatives of the disability community to engage in an ongoing dialogue to facilitate a more welcoming and accessible courthouse for people with both visible and hidden disabilities. As a result of those meetings, there will be a lunch and learn regarding hidden disabilities presented to judges and court staff. In addition, OJD has updated the ADA access information on their website and jury summons in Multnomah County now have updated ADA access information.

We have a long way to go in order to achieve a bar that reflects the diversity of our communities. But we can start by identifying some tangible changes, making those changes, and institutionalizing the change. Do you have ideas? Feel free to reach out.

Contact us at mba@mbabar.org, 503.222.3275.

YLS members serve on committees designed to address the needs of newer lawyers and offer tailored volunteer opportunities. A synopsis of each committee charge follows with contact information for the current chair. If you have any ideas or concerns to share about a particular committee, please contact the chair, YLS President Holly Hayman at hhayman@llg-llc.com, or MBA staff at mba@mbabar.org.

YLS Continuing Legal Education
Chair: Maxine Tuan, Wyse Kadish LLP, mt@wysekadish.com, 503.228.8448
Organizes CLE seminars and career development presentations specifically intended for newer attorneys.







YLS Membership
Chair: Jessica Schuh, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt PC, jschuh@schwabe.com, 503.796.2057
Assists in the recruitment and involvement of YLS members by coordinating a variety of social activities designed to increase professional and personal interaction.







YLS Pro Bono
Chair: Anthony Blake, Markowitz Herbold PC, anthonyblake@markowitzherbold.com, 503.295.3085
Encourages involvement in pro bono service and provides support to organizations. Coordinates Wills for Heroes clinics.








YLS Service to the Public
Chair: Amelia Andersen, Immigrant Refugee Community Organization, ameliaa@irco.org, 541.968.9337 
Provides opportunities to become involved in the community, such as Community Service Days, the Imprint Program and the Objection! Poetry Slam.