WSBA provides free and low-cost CLE courses to support onboarding new members into the profession. The following are seminars specifically designed for members who have been admitted for less than ten years, regardless of admittance date in another jurisdiction.
Financial Focus
Developed in partnership with the Washington New Members Committee, the Financial Focus CLE program centers on financial topics that are relevant to new practitioners. This program is free to new members.
Financial Focus: Student Loans and Timekeeping 101 (September 2024)
Financial Focus: The Basic of Client Trust Accounts (August 2023)
Trial Advocacy Program
The annual WSBA Trial Advocacy Program (TAP) offers a two-day CLE on trial skills, followed by a mock trial. This seminar is suitable for attorneys with little or no trial experience in either criminal or civil law. Participants can choose to attend the two-day CLE only, or both the CLE and the mock trial.
The two-day CLE will be held on April 16 & 17 both online and in person at the WSBA office in Seattle. The CLE will cover the full cycle of a jury trial, including voir dire, objections, direct and cross examination, presenting evidence, and closing arguments. A catered lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
After the first day of the CLE on Thursday, April 16, we invite all TAP CLE participants and WSBA New Members to join us for TAP into Connections: New Member Social & Trial Advocacy Program CLE Mixer. Hosted by the Washington New Members Committee, this event offers an opportunity to network and enjoy appetizers. An RSVP for the Mixer will be posted shortly.
A mock trial will follow on Saturday, May 9, at the WSBA office, providing a chance to practice skills learned during the CLE and receive feedback from volunteer judges.
You can view past Trial Advocacy Programs on-demand at the links below. We invite new speakers every year, so each program is unique.
Practice Primers
The WSBA Practice Primer takes a substantive area of law and develops a series of learning tracks that build upon one another. Completion of all three learning tracks (usually three sessions within a track) will provide attendees with a solid educational foundation and primer for practice.
We currently have on-demand Practice Primer seminars covering Employment Law, Business Law, and Estate Planning.
The 2026 Criminal Law Practice Primer provides a solid foundation for new practitioners with three learning tracks that build upon on another. Taught from the defense perspective, each track consists of three sessions on the following topics:
Track 1 (January): Criminal Law and Procedure
Track 2 (February): Motions, Negotiations, and Trial
Track 3 (March): Introduction to Felonies
Sessions are held 8:55–11:15 a.m. on the last three Wednesdays of each month
Participants can earn additional CLE credit by completing assigned homework. Each track consists of up to 7.0 CLE credits, with the entire series offering up to 21.0 CLE credits.
New Members licenses for less than ten years in Washington can attend for only $79 per track. Register now at the links above!
Online Products — New Member Seminars
These products and materials emphasize building a strong foundation in practice management, relationship building, interpersonal communications, work-life balance, ethics, and professionalism.
Get Involved!
Interested in helping WSBA develop seminars geared towards new members?
Email us at NewMembers@wsba.org.
