My Blog

Come visit me over on Blogger

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:42:19 -0800

Sorry for the shake-up, but I’m going to be doing my Little Note Book blog over on blogger for a few months to see if it works out better than this one. I know, you don’t care how the sausage is made... but I use blogger for my other blogs, and am finding it less convenient to post when I’m using multiple platforms. Let me know if you have feedback either way, and I look forward to seeing you over at Blogger!

How to spend an evening, thanks to Port Townsend High School Mock Trial

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:55:05 -0800

Last night, I had one of the most exciting, entertaining evenings I’ve had in a long time. That may be a sorry statement about the level of adventure my evenings typically entail, but I stand by my words. Along with most of the rest of the Jefferson County Bar Association, I spent the evening evaluating a mock trial scrimmage by two teams: Port Townsend High School, my alma mater; and a Wenatchee school. First, I was shocked at the turnout... we had three courtrooms going, and in my courtroom we had eight “jurors” including one amused wife who had been told by her dear husband that they were “going to see a play” that evening. The rest of the jurors were local attorneys. I didn’t do a headcount, but I presume the rest of the courtrooms were equally staffed by local attorneys and members of the bench, based on how crowded the courtroom was with attorneys and judges prior to the start of the scrimmage.

The evening was absolutely fantastic fun. These students did an impressive job -- it’s early in the mock trial season, and they largely had mastered the facts that they need to memorize in order to move to the next step of working through their case “off book.” More than one of the attorney-jurors commented that we wouldn’t want to bump into any of these students as opposing counsel. There was, truly, a tremendous amount of potential in the room on both of the teams. I told my husband during my drive home that I wouldn’t commit to help with all of the scrimmages, but I will definitely make time to do this a few times a year. Aside from being able to help out the mock trial teams, this was a fantastic experience for me as a younger lawyer. I was surprised at how much I’ve learned since my own mock trial days over a decade ago; startled by how much sharper and better-tuned my reflexes felt as I listened to questioning and testimony and my own “objection” reflex kicked in a number of times. Plus, as an attorney, I now know that the jury seats in Jefferson County Superior Court are supremely uncomfortable -- a fact I will definitely remember if I have a jury trial in that courtroom.

In addition to the team students and coaches, it was a huge treat to meet a few more of my Jefferson County colleagues. I have a handful of dear friends in practice in Jefferson, but otherwise most of my practice in Jefferson County historically has been in domestic court so I’ve met only a few of the local attorneys. It was a delight to get a chance to meet a large part of the rest of the Jefferson bar in one congenial, festive evening. If you’re an attorney in practice, give some serious thought to making a date with your local mock trial team -- you will find the time well spent and rewarding.

Getting back to the real world

Mon, 7 Jan 2008 15:41:55 -0800

So, that was a pretty long quiet spell -- I guess I should provide a bit of an explanation!

From mid-December on, I was swamped with efforts to meet my clients’ and my own goals for the end of the year, and that left little time for blogging. To complicate matters further, my right hand dog developed a liver condition, so she had to take a number of sick days for testing and diagnosis, which left me a bit short handed. By the time I left for the holidays, we had gotten word that Hana will be just fine, a few more clients had completed estate plans in place, one young client’s misdemeanor was resolved, and I received a very nice letter in the mail from the Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, informing me that I have been selected to receive the 2007 Thomas Neville Pro Bono Award. 2007 certainly wrapped up with a bang!

Thanks to my patient clients and courteous opposing counsel, I was able to take a short vacation over the holidays with my spouse and our friends, to Red Rocks, Nevada. The weather was lovely (except for the snow on the drive down, stretching from North Bend to northern Arizona) and the rock climbing was some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

And now, it’s a new year, with new goals, and lots going on. January holds a very important event in these parts -- the annual Kitsap County Bar Association Installation Dinner, featuring an auction to raise funds for Kitsap Legal Services. For more information about the dinner, please click here, and if you would like to donate an auction item or otherwise support Kitsap Legal Services, please let me know. I am the area coordinator for the North End, but am happy to help put anyone in touch with the right person, if you’re willing to help out.

Happy new year to you and yours!

Protection orders and antiharassment orders

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:08:30 -0800

As part of my practice I work with families and individuals who have to interact with various types of antiharassment orders and/or protection orders. In the cases I handle in District and Municipal Courts, these orders typically arise either by operation of the Court when there is a domestic violence allegation as part of a misdemeanor assault, or, they are affirmatively sought by one party to protect against contact by another party. Most folks have never heard of these orders until they are defending against them or until a court imposes one as a condition of release in a domestic violence matter.

If you are involved in a relationship that involves conflict, think very carefully about your actions. The best thing you can do for yourself is to avoid an order in the first place -- if conflict brews between you and a friend, neighbor or partner, take a deep breath and leave the premises before the conflict escalates. Protective orders do not all require physical contact in order to be issued -- there are many types of orders that have different standards. A conflict involving property damage, or a severe enough shouting match may send the other party to the court to seek an order, and they just might get it. Mediation is a far better use of time and resources to resolve a dispute than a shouting match.

If you find yourself party to an action involving a protective or antiharassment order:

Do NOT violate the order. A violation of most protection and/or antiharassment orders carries serious penalties. If you receive notice of an order, comply with its terms. Even if compliance is difficult, you must make arrangements to comply.
Appear for court dates. Do not skip any scheduled court hearings. You have a right to defend against the order in civil cases, and if the order results from a criminal matter, the underlying criminal matter must be addressed. A failure to appear at a court hearing will only make matters worse.
Call for help. Whether seeking or defending against an antiharassment order, a good attorney can help with the outcome.

The Access Fund Community Partnership

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 09:40:03 -0800

First Ascent Law PS, and attorney Sara Lingafelter (that’s me!) are the newest community partners of the Access Fund here in Washington. The Access Fund is is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and to conserving the climbing environment. The least I can do is provide a tiny bit of support for a cause that is so close to my heart. When planning your year-end charitable giving, give some thought to the Access Fund. More than 85 cents of every membership dollar funds projects and services that preserve climbing access, protect the climbing environment, and minimize impacts and restrictions across the U.S.