2026 April Hearsay

HearSay THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

April 2026

December 2019

Welcome, Commissioner Lopez!

Kyle Sciuchetti incoming President of the OSB

Don’t get lost in Oregon or Washington Got an injury law case in Oregon or Washington?

We can put you on the right path. Available for consult, association, or referral for injury claims. Let’s talk soon.

JESSE JACOBS OTLA Guardian / WSAJ Eagle Past President, Clark County Washington Bar Association

DON JACOBS Past Trial Lawyer of the Year, Clark County, WA Past President, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Portland 503.222.7757 | Vancouver 360.695.1624 | nwinjurylawcenter.com

The Clark County Bar Association is a professional organization that serves to support our local attorney community through providing education and networking opportunities designed to enhance and foster better relationships within the local legal community.

April Hearsay Contributors Lisa Darco Clark County Bar Association

Lisa Da rco has ser ved as the Executive Director of the Clark County Bar Association since 2011. In 2021, she was honored with the Professionalism in Practice Award by the WSBA.

Amanda Hartman Beaty Hatch

Amanda joined the Beaty Hatch team in February 2025 as a family law attorney.

She focuses her practice on dissolutions, modifications and prenuptial agreements.

Josh Sherman Jane Clark Legal

Josh

Sherman

dedicates

his

practice to representing plaintiffs in

medical

malpractice

cases.

Clients Don't Often See the Whole Board

Theresa Springer, CDLP® Certied Divorce Lending Professional Senior Loan Ofcer cell: 360.798.4161 direct: 503-766-4335 Theresa.Springer@movement.com www.TheresaSpringer.com

Divorce can be like a chess match. In the midst of the emotions that come with it clients don't often see the whole board. Having a CDLP® on your client team will protect them now and when they're ready to make the next move.

Contact Theresa Springer, CDLP® today!

Prepared Clients Are Better Clients A Resource for Clients Exploring Divorce Not all clients are ready for immediate legal action. Our workshops are ideal for those exploring their options. Referring them to Second Saturday prepares them for future steps, leading to more decisive clients for your practice.

Expand Your Network and Client Base

Presenting at Second Saturday Workshops showcases your expertise, builds connections, and attracts clients in the early stages of considering divorce. This exposure positions you as a trusted family law authority leading to new business opportunities.

For more information, to register, or to join our team of presenters, contact Theresa Springer, Co-Leader, today!

Theresa Springer, CDLP® : 360.798.4161 l Dale Carstensen, CDRE : 541.659.1370 2ndsaturdayclarkcounty@gmail.com

An Interview with Former WSBA President page 10

Hi, I’m New Here: Caroline Witherspoon page 20

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Portugal Bound: Part 4 page 25

SUNSET IN PORTO PARK

CCBA

President’s Message

By Nathan Petersen

Lawyering is stressful. It is hard not to take the weight of your work home with you at times. I remember very early into practice f ighting the constant urge to check my email while on vacation, just to see what f ires had erupted while I was out. Over those f irst few years of practice, I had to set boundaries with myself in order to manage work stress. I wanted to share some of those boundaries for the president’s message this month. Everyone likes unsolicited advice, right?

Removed work email f rom my phone - This was a slow process. First, I removed the notif ication sound. Then I removed the number icon showing unread emails. Then I hid the app on my phone. Eventually, I decided to remove it for one week while on vacation. I never turned it back on. I still have it accessible on my iPad and laptop, so it’s available if needed, but I don’t need to be at its beck and call.

Don’t read pleadings that come in late afternoon – I used to always want to scratch the itch of reading what their responses were. I found when I did this that my mind was occupied with processing it and crafting my response for the f irst hour or so I was home and I still had to go in the next morning and put the response to paper. It also felt unfair to my family Shut down email at 4:30 – Same concept as not reading pleadings. My staff does alert me if something truly urgent comes in.

Everything is an emergency, nothing is an emergency – This is especially applicable to family law. Early on I had to learn that if I let clients dictate what was an emergency, it would be never ending.

NATHAN PETERSEN | CCBA PRESIDENT 8 NATHAN@THEPRLAWFIRM.COM | 360.326.4577

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However, my plan was derailed to some extent by the COVID-19 Pandemic because of the travel restrictions that were in place during the first part of the pandemic in 2020. In fact, I was not even able to attend my swearing-in ceremony in person and was sworn in by Chief Justice Stephens as the WSBA president over Zoom from my dining room table. The pandemic reshaped my plans as president, which was a huge surprise that never could have been predicted. The flexibility to change due to dire and unforeseen circumstances became a hallmark of my presidency.

What were your biggest challenges during your presidency?

The COVID-19 Pandemic was without a doubt the biggest challenge. We overcame this by implementing virtual meetings and working closely with the Washington Supreme Court. In particular when the Washington Supreme Court and WSBA mandated COVID vaccinations for their employees and volunteers across the state, this was highly controversial and fiercely debated by the Board of Governors. Looking back, it was a very scary and dangerous time because the virus was taking hundreds of thousands of lives across the country. As an association, we deemed it medically necessary to protect staff and volunteers.

There was also a constitutional law debate regarding whether or not the WSBA should continue to be a mandatory bar versus voluntary due to freedom of association and freedom of speech issues. Washington’s mandatory bar structure combines regulatory functions (licensing, discipline, admissions) with voluntary professional association functions (committees, task forces, sections, legislative activity) into one organization. The core constitutional issue revolves around the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association. The central question being debated across the country is: Does requiring lawyers to be a member of an integrated bar and pay fees violate their First Amendment rights when the bar engages in non-regulatory or potentially ideological activities? Prior to my presidency and near the end of my presidency, this issue was fiercely debated, and it was twice decided by the WSBA Board of Governors that WSBA should remain a mandatory bar association.

Conversely, what accomplishment or initiative during your term are you most proud of, and why?

At the end of my term, I was able to take the Board of Governors to Boise to collaborate with the Idaho State Bar Association regarding their mandatory 11

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malpractice insurance requirement and Washington’s Rule 9 program. It was a tremendous learning experience and motivated the Board of Governors to also meet with the OSB in Tigard, Oregon, later that year. There we discussed Oregon’s developing initiative to license paralegals to perform some legal tasks previously only available to attorneys; comparing their work with the lessons learned from Washington’s Limited Licensed Legal Technician (LLLT) program. Both sessions were instrumental in bringing new ideas to the WSBA in terms of what has worked well in Oregon and Idaho.

Bar presidents often balance competing interests—members, the public, the courts, and the legislature. How did you navigate those tensions during your time with the WSBA? Regarding mandatory liability insurance, a member of the public strongly advocated for making that a requirement for Washington attorneys and the Board of Governors considered the topic at length. There was a lot of dissent amongst the board due to fear that it would be more expensive than the premiums that some practitioners were already paying for insurance and because some of the board thought it was wrong to force members to purchase insurance. As a compromise, we created a requirement that if a member does not have insurance, they must disclose this to their client.

Having seen how mandatory malpractice insurance operates in Oregon and benefits its licensees, I still think it’s an idea that the WSBA and its members should consider.

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What do you think most WSBA members misunderstand or underappreciate about the bar association?

I sometimes hear members complain about the WSBA being just a disciplinary body. We are so much more than that. The WSBA is an organization made up of Washington licensed legal professionals that is community based. While there is a disciplinary arm of the board, members should realize that we are largely self-regulated through our own community of members. By virtue of being community based, the WSBA has so much to offer to its members if they choose to get involved and participate in the various sections, committees, and task forces. I also want to point out that members get so many benefits and resources for their annual fee; I was proud, for instance, to help highlight the model of free deskbooks for the WSBA (something Oregon had been doing for years), which recently led to a lending model through the Washington State Law Library.

Are there particular programs, services, or behind-the-scenes functions of the WSBA that you believe every member should better understand or engage with?

During my presidency, I wrote a column in The Bar News focusing on improving the WSBA’s Member Wellness Program, which promotes the well-being of WSBA members and law students. The program itself is a member resource for consultation, community, and education on mental health and self-care topics. All services are confidential. In order to be the best possible lawyers and improve our communities, we have to have strong mental health. Two years ago, the WSBA established a task force charged with studying what we could do to improve our programs and the services we offer our members in this area. I strongly encourage members to contact the Member Wellness Program if they need help or have ideas about how the WSBA can improve in this area.

We are also entering an era where all of our members need to be up to date with technology. To this end, the WSBA created the Legal Technology Task Force—intended to provide recommendations and research into model tools and resources that support legal professionals based on direct member feedback and best models.

For members in rural areas, I strongly encourage them to get involved with the Small Town and Rural (STAR) Council. The goal of STAR is to make sure that rural communities continue to have access to quality legal services. The practice of law is also under attack by public distrust. The Rule of Law Ambassadors program is intended to promote civic engagement, trust, and confidence.

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Do you have any advice for practitioners based on what you learned from your time at the WSBA? Get involved! My time at the WSBA has made me a better lawyer by virtue of being surrounded by other fantastic lawyers who are motivated to improve the practice of law. There are countless opportunities to get involved and they are all rewarding.

Are there any initiatives from the WSBA that you hope to adapt or build upon during your tenure with the Oregon State Bar? Yes, there are more attorneys retiring in Oregon than are being admitted to practice. This problem is more severe in rural areas. I hope to bring a STAR program to the OSB to help strengthen the practice of law in rural Oregon. I would also like to work on creating a version of the Rule 6 Law Clerk program for Oregon by which participants are provided a legal education guided by a tutor under an apprenticeship model. These are both access to justice issues because Oregonians need more attorneys to bridge the justice gap in many areas of practice.

What are you looking forward to as the future OSB president?

I am looking forward to once again traveling across the state and learning from licensees about what is working well and how the OSB can help their legal communities. I also want to support the OSB in reaching out to its many out-of-state members located in neighboring states and across the globe and find more ways to encourage out-of-state members to get involved in the OSB.

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Gramma Crafts

We recently gathered for one of my favorite kinds of afternoons — a little something we called Gramma Crafts. The idea was simple: show up, bring your favorite craft, and spend two cozy hours doing what you love, side by side with friends. No agenda, no pressure. You could craft, watch, chat, snack, learn something new, or all of the above.

And show up they did! Our crafters came armed with crochet hooks, paintbrushes, coloring books, and felting needles — a little bit of everything. The room had that wonderful, quiet-busy energy where everyone is happily absorbed in something and conversation flows in and out naturally. One especially ambitious friend even showed up with homemade cookies, which may have been the highlight of the entire event (we see you, and we love you).

If you've been on the fence about coming to a CCBA Connects event, Gramma Crafts is a pretty good picture of what we're all about — low-key, welcoming, and genuinely fun. Keep an eye out for the next one. Bring your knitting. Bring your sketchbook. Bring cookies. We'll be here.

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Request for Qualifications (RFQ): Public Defense Attorney Services The City of Vancouver is seeking qualified attorneys to provide professional public defense services for indigent individuals charged with misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses in district court.

Scope of Services: Selected contractors will be responsible for providing comprehensive legal representation, including but not limited to: ● Client consultation and case evaluation ● Court appearances and trial representation ● Legal research, motion practice, and negotiations ● Ensuring compliance with constitutional, statutory, and City and Washington State Bar Association standards for indigent defense.

Minimum Qualifications: ● Active membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, which may be through reciprocity from Oregon ● Demonstrated experience in criminal defense, particularly in municipal or district court ● Familiarity with City/WSBA indigent defense standards ● Ability to manage caseloads in compliance with state guidelines Contract Terms: The City anticipates awarding contracts with a term of two years with options to extend, with compensation structured as $500/case, or $1,000 if it requires a trial.

Submission Requirements: Interested applicants must submit: ● Letter of interest ● Resume ● Description of relevant experience ● References Deadline for Submission: Ongoing recruitment Submission Method: Please submit materials to: Katherine.Kelly@cityofvancouver.us The City of Vancouver is an equal opportunity contractor and encourages applications from diverse and historically underrepresented legal professionals.

For questions, please contact: Katherine Kelly, Policy & Programs Manager Katherine.kelly@cityofvancouver.us P.O. Box 1995 | Vancouver, WA 98668-1995 | 360-487-8000 | cityofvancouver.us

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Be Found. Be Hired.

Smart Lawyers Don’t Wait. They Get Referred.

Many CCBA members don't realize they already have access to one of the most effective client development tools available: the Southwest Washington Lawyer Referral Service (SWLRS).

This is not a pro bono program. It is not a modest-means service. Every client who contacts SWLRS is actively looking to hire an attorney and understands they will be paying for legal representation. SWLRS simply makes the introduction — and then steps aside.

Whether you're building a new practice, expanding into additional areas of law, or looking for a reliable source of qualif ied leads, SWLRS delivers.

How it works Choose Your Panels Select f rom four broad practice areas. You decide where referrals go — and which cases you take.

Get Matched with Clients When a prospective client contacts SWLRS, they are connected to attorneys on the appropriate panel. You receive the referral; you decide whether to proceed.

One Reduced-Rate Consultation. That's It. SWLRS asks only that you offer an initial consultation at a reduced rate — not to exceed $150 for 30 minutes. Your rates f rom that point forward are entirely your own.

Stay Informed Designate whoever works best — you, a paralegal, or another off ice contact — to receive updates. The system is straightforward and requires minimal administrative overhead.

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High-demand panels — including Administrative Law, Criminal Law, Real Estate, and Civil Litigation — consistently see the highest referral volumes, offering immediate opportunity for attorneys in those areas.

What Members Are Saying "SWLRS connected me with clients immediately — no advertising, no chasing leads."

"I have signed up for the Lawyer Referral Service ever since I joined the CCBA. It is an excellent resource for our community members looking to f ind the right lawyer."

– Jesse Jacobs "Thanks to the Referral Service, my practice is constantly growing and evolving, and I will forever be glad and thankful for joining. Had I not joined, I doubt that my practice would have made it through the f irst lonely and dry months. If you are not currently a member, I would highly recommend signing up."

– Joseph Wagner

Real Clients. Real Fees. Real Results.

SWLRS is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow your client base — without Google ads, marketing campaigns, or cold outreach.

The clients who call are ready to hire. The only question is whether they'll f ind you.

Enrollment is quick. The commitment is minimal. The upside is real.

Ready to get started?

Contact Christy Grafton at the CCBA off ice to enroll or learn more. christy@ccbawashington.org (360) 695-0599

A program of the Clark County Bar Association

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HI! I'm New Here

CAROLINE WITHERSPOON This column highlights an attorney who is new to the Clark County legal community. This month, we are featuring Caroline Witherspoon.

Without further ado, let’s get to know Caroline!

Where a re yo u f rom ?

I am from Clark County Washington. I grew up in Hockinson, graduated from Battle Ground High School in 2018, graduated from Clark college in 2019 and then Washington State University Vancouver in 2021. I went away briefly to law school at Gonzaga University, and decided I wanted to come home to start my career.

Where do you w or k?

I work at the Law Office of Steven L. Busick where I represent injured workers on their worker compensation claims

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Ho w lon g h a ve you b ee n w orkin g in Cl a rk C ou n t y?

I have been working in Clark County since I finished law school in 2024

Ho w are you liking it s o f a r?

I love doing worker compensation law, and Steve Busick is the one who’s been doing it the longest. Getting to learn from a lawyer with over 50 years of experience is a rare opportunity that I don’t take for granted. I also enjoy working in an office downtown where there are great spots to have dinner and go shopping after I’m done working for the day.

What is your favorite p a rt o f y ou r job ?

I enjoy finding solutions for people who are struggling with a difficult legal issue. I also love getting to speak Spanish at work every day

What neighb orh ood d o yo u l ive in ?

I live up on Larch Mountain in Hockinson in the middle of a big forest

Do yo u ha ve any p ets?

I have an orange cat, Clementine, and three chickens, April, Moira, and Siggy

Drin k of choice - beer , w in e, co ffee?

I love iced herbal tea. Metallion Cafe right near my office has the best teas.

If I’m having a drink, I love a French 75.

Favo rite Va ca tion?

Argentina and Uruguay in 2018. I ate Rio de la Plata region staples like baked empanadas, dulce de leche, and medialunas. I got to see amazing historical sites at Colonia in Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Alta Gracia in Argentina. I also loved seeing wild flamingos at Mar Chiquita.

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Favo rite restaura nt in P ort l an d /V an co u v er?

It’s a tie between Golden Tusk and Hearty K-Bop in Battle Ground. I easily go to those two places more than anywhere else.

Te ll us a fun fact abo ut y ourself.

I started collecting plants in law school, and now I have over 150 plants in my house. I particularly love big philodendrons and carnivorous plants like pinguiculas.

to eone new m o s w o n Do you k y that we it n u m m ir the co nd us the e S ? t e e s h o u ld m re w il l f e a t u e w d n a ue. name o m in g is s c p u n a t h e m in ke it n e y H a w h W : il a t Em v e r la w .n e u o c n a v whawke@

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TOGETHER WE GROW! volunteer event MAY 30 SATURDAY

9:00 AM NOON

HERITAGE FARM 1919 NE 78th Street Vancouver, WA 98665 Park in the lot, follow CCFB signage to check-in (slight uphill walk).

🌱🌱 Get your hands dirty for a good cause! Join the CCBA DEI Committee for a planting day at Heritage Farm in support of the Clark County Food Bank's Garden for the Community. Whether you've got a green thumb or you're just here for the fresh air, this all-ages volunteer event is the perfect way to dig in and give back this season. Bring the kids, bring a friend, bring your energy — and yes, bring your gloves!

Sponsored by Wheeler Boyd 23

CLICK TO REGISTER

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teresa foster

partner in charge vancouver

We protect what our clients value most. ®

McKinley Irvin attorneys are known for their relentless pursuit of successful results, whether representing individuals in financially complex divorce or high conflict parenting disputes.

But perhaps our most noted distinction is our steadfast commitment to protecting what our clients value most.

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vancouver | portland | seattle | bellevue | kirkland | everett | tacoma | mckinleyirvin.com

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PORTUGAL BOUND, PART 4: VISITING PORTO

By Amanda Hartman

Porto was our top choice when we began narrowing down cities in Portugal where we could realistically see ourselves living. It is more affordable than Lisboa, is the second-largest city in the country, and has the advantage of an international airport. Spending several days there helped confirm that the region checks many of our boxes, even if Porto itself may not ultimately be where we settle long-term.

While in Porto, we visited a contemporary art museum, watched sunsets from several beautiful parks, and had some excellent food. The francesinhas at Requinte were a standout, and overall the best meals of our trip were in Porto and the surrounding area. The city felt lively and social, with people out at all hours and no shortage of small, local restaurants serving highquality, authentic food. Of course – Google Maps again proved you cannot trust it with the existence, location, or hours of those restaurants.

Porto is very rainy – but as someone who moved to Washington to seek the rain out, I am looking forward to a continuation of the climate. If you’re looking for sunny beaches, you may want to focus on the South.

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One of Porto’s strengths is how well it functions as a base for exploring northern Portugal. We took a day trip to Viana do Castelo, a waterfront city north of Porto, where we climbed the tower at the Santuário de Santa Luzia for panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding region. Not recommended for anyone with claustrophobia because the final stone steps up are so narrow you have to wait for a green light to squeeze up (or down) so you don’t accidently run into someone going the other way and get trapped.

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SUNSET IN PORTO PARK

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We also visited Citânia de Briteiros, a pre-Roman hilltop settlement that you can freely walk through, offering a striking reminder of how much history is embedded in this region. The site is spread out and well-marked, with stone foundations and paths that make it easy to walk through at your own pace.

It felt informal and open, less like a museum and more like a place people are simply trusted to explore.

O DE I R Á U SANT

ZIA U L A SANT

After spending time in Porto and looking more closely at what we want dayto-day, Braga emerged as a strong contender for where we would actually live. Although we did not visit Braga on this trip, its location just north of Porto, lower cost of living, and reputation as a smaller but still active city make it appealing. Braga appears to offer many of the same regional benefits—access to food, culture, transit, and day trips—while potentially providing a more affordable home base, with Porto still easily accessible when we want the energy of a larger city. In other words, it feels suspiciously familiar to anyone who has lived in Vancouver with Portland just down the road.

At this point, Braga feels like the logical next place to explore rather than a conclusion we’ve already reached. It’s firmly on the list for a future trip, one that will be even more focused on day-to-day livability than sightseeing.

Thankfully, that means we have a very good excuse to return to northern Portugal—and I’m not exactly disappointed about that.

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Clark County Bar Association

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CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING

March 3, 2026

Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting March 3, 2026 1. Called to order 12:08 pm; Petersen, Rapp, Melnick, Larson, Mendoza, Sherman, Wechselblatt, and Executive Director Darco 2. Approval of February 3, 2026 board meeting minutes: (Melnick/Petersen), Approved 3. Treasurer’s Report: (Melnick) Will have a clear picture of finances after Barrister’s Ball expenses and revenue are received and totaled. Motion to approve engaging Opsahl Dawson to explore tax options.

(Larson/Rapp) Approved 4. To Discuss a. Membership Update: Current quarter 394 members, 81 have not renewed, 22 are new members to the CCBA. First Quarter 2025 there were 420 members. Staff memberships 43, 43 total last year. b. Section Bylaw Amendment: Reviewed section 8.04 final draft language. Motion to approve amendment to add section 8.04. (Petersen/Wechselblatt) Approved. Vote on the amendment will be held at the 3/16/26 General Membership Meeting. c. Motion to ratify December 2025 board email vote to appoint attorney Meridee Pabst to the Law Library Board. (Melnick/Larson) Approved d. April board meeting will be rescheduled to 4/14/26 e. Payment Card Industry compliance policy: In order to accept credit card transactions, we need a written security policy that complies with Payment Card Industry data security standards.

5. Upcoming Events a. Barrister’s Ball- March 7th, 2026 b. CCBA General Meeting- March 16, 2026 Adjourned 12:56

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