Megan A. Winder Receives Washington State Bar Association Local Hero Award │ March 20, 2020
OLYMPIA [March 20, 2020] — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) has named Megan Winder as the most recent recipient of the Local Hero Award for her crucial work in fighting to help trauma survivors.
The Local Hero Award is given to those who have made noteworthy contributions to their communities. WSBA President Rajeev Majumdar announced the award recipients during the March 19-20 Board of Governors meeting. Winder was nominated by the Government Lawyers Bar Association.
Since joining the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office in 2010 as a deputy prosecuting attorney, Winder has sought justice for hundreds of survivors, many who are children, and displayed great compassion and empathy for the trauma they have endured.
“Megan is a strong advocate for children and victims of sexual violence in the community,” said Thurston County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brandi Archer. “… Megan’s work has helped bring a voice to those who have felt powerless.”
In addition to her normal functions as a deputy prosecutor and team leader for the Special Victim’s Team, Winder has also devoted herself to sharing her knowledge throughout the legal community. She sits on the board of the Washington State Children’s Justice Task Force and teaches at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Winder also teaches Sexual Assault Investigations: Victim-Centered Engagement and Resiliency Tactics, which is an advanced interviewing class to help law enforcement handle sexual assault investigations in a way that is trauma informed and client centered.
Winder has also volunteered with myriad organizations and events, including the NW Children’s Justice Conference, Criminal Justice Training Commission, South Sound Reading Foundation, and Public Interest Law Association.
“Such devotion toward helping our most vulnerable citizens is nothing short of extraordinary,” said WSBA President Majumdar. “To have such a stalwart advocate within the legal profession benefits much more than the profession, but society at large.”
Prior to Thurston County, Winder worked in the prosecutor’s offices for both Pierce and Snohomish Counties, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington. She was a regional finalist in the ABA Mediation Competition, Moot Court 1L Appellate Advocacy Competition Champion, winner of the Dever Writing Award for an Outstanding Honors Thesis, and winner of the Sprole Social Service Award.
Winder received her J.D. from University of Washington School of Law, a master’s in teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s with a double major in communications and history from Boston College.
About the Washington State Bar Association
The WSBA operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court and exercises a governmental function authorized by the Court to license and regulate the state’s nearly 40,000 legal professionals, including lawyers, limited practice officers, and limited license legal technicians. The WSBA both regulates legal professionals under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA administers the Bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; administers the lawyer discipline system; and provides continuing legal education for legal professionals, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities. The Bar’s mission is to serve the public and its members, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.
