Membership
WDTL's Vision:
To foster efforts of Washington civil defense attorneys to embrace the highest professional standards of integrity, excellence, and commitment to a fair and just legal system.
Benefits of WDTL Membership:
- Access to general and expert witness listservs.
- Free CLEs for members.
- Reduced rates at WDTL annual legal seminars offered throughout the state.
- Members-only Judicial, educational, and networking events.
- Access to the legislative process via our lobbyist.
- Access to potential clients through WDTL’s relationship with business and industry organizations.
- Brief bank of deposition transcripts, briefs, orders, and other items of interest available in the members-only section of the WDTL website.
- Enhance your career and leverage the benefits of WDTL membership!
To make application for membership with the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, you agree that a substantial portion of your practice is devoted to representing defendants, companies, or entities in civil litigation.
Member Resources include:
Defense News
WDTL’s quarterly newsletter provides information about Association activities and seminars, a Judicial Profile column, member news, job listings, expert witness and legal brief requests, reports on local bar rules and committee reports from WDTL.
Member Meetings
WDTL sponsors one-hour (brown bag) CLE programs on current case law or developments and member luncheons.
Substantive Committees/Sections
If your defense practice has a focus on insurance, products liability, workers compensation, appellate work or professional malpractice, you may join one of WDTL’s committees/sections and network with other top specialists in your field.
Young Lawyers Committee
WDTL has a Young Lawyers Committee for members who have practiced less than seven years to share common concerns and ideas for issues that are particular to their level of practice. This is a great way to meet other defense lawyers who are new bar members and to tap into the knowledge of the more experienced defense lawyers in WDTL.
Amicus Program
WDTL’s Amicus Committee is regularly encouraged to file Amicus Briefs in both the Washington Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. WDTL’s brief writers work on a pro bono basis, seeking only the best legal position without influence or bias.
Members-Only Content on wdtl.org
Gain access to a password secured members-only area of our website. You’ll find a complete Membership Directory, a list of all WDTL Amicus briefs, legislative updates, expert witness email listserv, Practice Development Committee, and CLE information.
Annual Summer Convention
Each summer, members and their families meet for three days of fun and education at a resort location. Past convention locations include Semiahmoo, Whistler, Skamania, Lake Chelan, and Coeur d’Alene.
Legislative Support
WDTL provides testimony to the State Legislature on issues that impact the defense lawyer and the rights of all people and organizations who are sued in court. WDTL has a lobbyist to advance our positions on legal issues in the legislature.
Court Rules and Jury Instructions
WDTL members sit on the WSBA Court Rules Committee as well as the Supreme Court’s Jury Instruction Committee to represent the defense perspective.
Judicial Recognition
Each year WDTL hosts a Member Reception in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane to show our support for the judiciary. In 1996, WDTL formed a non-profit foundation to raise money for the court system.
