WSBA Names Lisa Dickinson Local Hero | March 7, 2024
Spokane, Wash., March 7, 2043 – The Washington State Bar Association today presented Spokane attorney Lisa J. Dickinson with the Local Hero Award in recognition of her dedication to mentoring and other valuable contributions to the legal community.
“Lisa Dickinson represents the type of leadership and professionalism that inspires the next generation of the legal profession in Washington,” said WSBA President Hunter Abell. “Her commitment to mentorship, diversity, and equity in the practice of law has a profound influence on our profession here in Spokane and across the state. I am proud to recognize her long record of accomplishments in the community.”
The Local Hero Award is presented to those who have made noteworthy contributions to their communities and the legal profession. WSBA Executive Director Terra Nevitt presented Dickinson with the award at WSBA’s Board of Governors meeting at Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane March 7.
Owner of Dickinson Law Firm, PLLC, in Spokane, Dickinson focuses her practice on civil and commercial litigation, business law, and Indian law among other areas. She is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Washington and Idaho, as well as various tribal jurisdictions. She serves in a judicial capacity as an appellate justice for the Northwest Intertribal Court System, a Tribal Court pro tem judge, and appellate justice for the Nez Perce Tribe. Born in Spokane, Dickinson obtained her law degree from the University of Washington.
Among her many contributions to the legal community, Dickinson serves a representative in the American Bar Association's House of Delegates and a leader in various ABA sections and divisions. She is a past chair of Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and WSBA’s Professionalism Committee and as a past president of the Spokane County Bar Association Young Lawyers. She has served on the Spokane County Washington Women Lawyers, the Asian Bar Association of Washington, and the Northwest Justice Project.
According to a group of eight attorneys and law students who nominated her for the Local Hero Award, Dickinson has been “a vocal advocate for Spokane, correcting misconceptions about its significance and ensuring it is seen as an integral part of the legal landscape in Washington and beyond.”
Her work as mentor has made a profound impact on law students she’s encountered. “Since our first meeting in law school (at Gonzaga), Lisa has been an exemplary mentor to me and countless other law students,” said third-year Gonzaga Law student Diego Rivas. “She has shown an extraordinary commitment to welcoming newcomers into the Spokane legal community, offering guidance, and facilitating their professional development. Her efforts to connect students with opportunities to engage and learn from established legal professionals have been instrumental in easing the transition into the legal field for many.”
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.
