News

Even Superheroes Die… Your Estate Planning in 2009

Webmaster — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:15:55 +0000

By Todd M. Kiesz

Unbelievable, nearly two years have passed since the death of Evel Knievel. Mortality struck another childhood Superhero. I hope his planning was in order.

If you have not updated your estate planning in the past several years, consider doing so now.

Reason 1: It is a good idea to review one’s planning every three to five years, or sooner if your life situation changes.

State Law Creates New Employment Leave Benefits

Webmaster — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:58:00 +0000

by Stan Bastian

Employers in Washington are now required to provide to their employees two new and additional types of leaves of absence: leave for domestic violence/sexual assault and family military leave. These new rules were recently passed by the Washington State Legislature and they apply to all employers – regardless of the size of the business or the number of employees. Further, employees have the right to sue the employer for violations. This article summarizes these new rules.

Legal Technicians

Webmaster — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:43:00 +0000

By Stan Bastian

This month the focus of my article is a little different than in the past. Rather than writing about a new development in the area of employment law, which is the focus of my law practice, I have decided to discuss a developing issue that is important to the legal profession as a whole. The issue is the growing and unmet need for legal services for low income clients and whether that need can be partially met by allowing non-lawyers to offer limited legal services.

A Conversation with Dean Earl Martin

Webmaster — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:18:00 +0000

This month I want to introduce you to Earl Martin, the Dean of the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane. Dean Martin arrived at Gonzaga in July 2005 after several years first with the U.S Air Force JAG Corps and then teaching at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth Texas. He is a fourth generation lawyer from Kentucky, and was educated at the University of Kentucky and Yale Law School. I met him last year during a visit to the law school for a bar related function and was impressed with his dedication, enthusiasm and energy. It was clear to me, even after only a brief visit, that Dean Martin is committed to both his school and its students.

Raising Money for Your Business

Webmaster — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:15:00 +0000

by J. Kevin Bromiley

Does your business need an infusion of capital to grow into what you envision it becoming? Do you have a business idea, but lack the resources to bring the concept into fruition? If so, you have probably considered borrowing money from a bank and/or seeking private investors. This article will discuss the latter option, known as selling securities. As securities is a complicated area of the law, this article will be an introduction to some issues of which you should be aware.

Presidents Column

Webmaster — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:05:00 +0000

At our meeting in October 2007, the WSBA Board of Governors voted to support an initiative to secure ‘salary restoration’ for the federal judiciary. If successful, this initiative will result in an immediate and substantial increase in pay for federal judges, which they clearly need and deserve. However, the concept of salary restoration means more than just a pay raise. The intent is to restore judicial pay to levels where once again a judicial appointment can be considered to be the capstone to a distinguished legal career. It should not be used as a stepping stone to a lucrative position in private practice.