Washington Leadership Institute

The Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) is a leadership development program created in 2004 by the WSBA Board of Governors at the behest of then president Ronald R. Ward. Its mission is to recruit, train and develop traditionally underrepresented attorneys for future leadership positions in the Washington State Bar Association and legal community. It is a collaborative leadership program between the Washington State Bar Association and the University of Washington School of Law.

The program strives to recruit fellows for each class who reflect the full diversity of our state, which includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability and geographic location. The program sessions include topics such as the “nuts and bolts” of law practice, leadership styles, the judiciary and the legislative process.

Program Benefits

The WLI provides the fellows with numerous opportunities to personally interact with legal, judicial and political leaders. The program offers a unique combination of benefits:

The program is a no-cost endeavor for Fellows because all travel, lodging and meals are covered
No tuition fee
CLE credits, enough to satisfy approximately 3 full years of MCLE requirements — at no cost
Exposure to practice and industry leaders
Training in the law, courts and the bar
One-on-one interaction with judges
Mentorship from well-known bar leaders

Apply to Become a WLI Fellow

The application period for the 2025 Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) Fellowship has closed as of October 10, 2024. However, for those interested in applying for next year’s cohort, here are the key requirements and expectations for eligibility and participation:

To be considered for the program, applicants must:

Residency: Reside in Washington State. If work obligations require you to be outside of the state, this should be discussed with the WLI co-chairs before acceptance into the program.
Active WSBA Membership: Be a current WSBA member.
Legal Experience: Have been admitted to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction for at least three years and not more than ten years (based on the Date of Bar Admission). For example, to be eligible for the 2025 program, applicants needed to have been admitted by December 31, 2021.
Nomination: Be nominated by an employer, a lawyer with at least ten years of practice (if self-employed), or a judge.
Commitment to Program Duration: Commit to the two-year program, attending each of the eight sessions during the first year and, in the second year, serving on a WSBA section, committee, or other bar or community related activity.
Full Attendance: 100% attendance and participation are required at all sessions, whether they are held in person or virtually.

If you're interested in applying for the next cycle, keep an eye out for application announcements and prepare the necessary materials in advance to ensure timely submission.

Questions? Please email uwlawwli@uw.edu.

Testimonial

“WLI was huge in giving me the tools I need to be better. The relationships in particular continue to be important and rewarding. I appreciate that the end goal is to understand the meaning of community and to then serve. The program is not just career oriented – but with the career advancement, one also gains a corresponding credible voice that is needed to make a difference.”
— Judge Bernard F. Veljacic, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 2

ABA Midyear Meeting

The ABA Midyear meeting was held virtually in February 2022. Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) Program was highlighted along with The Men of Color Project. Checkout the video!

WLI Stories

Collage of the eleven WLI Fellows for 2025.

Introducing the 2025 WLI Fellows

Published: January 14, 2025

Now in its 20th year, the WLI board selects 11 fellows for collaborative leadership program between the Washington State Bar Association and the University of Washington School of Law.

Introducing the 2024 WLI Fellows

Published: January 3, 2024

WLI board selects 11 fellows for collaborative leadership program between the Washington State Bar Association and the University of Washington School of Law.

WLI Co-Chairs Announced

Published: September 22, 2023

Erika Evans and Craig Sims have been selected as Co-Chairs of the Washington Leadership Institute (WLI), leading efforts to recruit and develop underrepresented attorneys for leadership positions.