Policy Workgroups
Legal Voice Policy Workgroups carry out our mission of advancing legal rights for women in the five Northwest states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska) by investigating and developing strategic solutions for specific Legal Voice priorities. There are typically 4-6 active workgroups. Volunteers are invited to join based on interest and expertise, as well as the current needs in a particular workgroup.
List of current policy workgroups
Qualifications
Workgroups are open to attorneys and non-attorneys with expertise or interest in an area related to one of the specific workgroup topics.
Responsibilities
Policy Workgroup members agree to serve for a term of at least one year. Each workgroup meets according to a regular, set meeting schedule (usually monthly), as well as on an as-needed basis. Members can anticipate a regular commitment of approximately 5-10 hours per month, with additional hours for legislation review during the legislative session and when working special projects.
Primary work on workgroup topic—workgroups will engage in the following types of activities:
- conduct research (including legal, social science, and media research) for the specific policy workgroup topic
- determine the state of the law in some or all of the five Northwest states
- identify, as specifically as possible, the gaps in the law or in enforcement of the law
- develop and recommend a litigation or legislative strategy to address the gap or the problem, or refer to the Self Help program for consideration (i.e., development of public education materials)
Legislative bill review - For specific, pre-assigned weeks during the legislative session, workgroup members will provide assistance on legislative issues by reviewing and analyzing proposed legislation that is of interest to Legal Voice. Additional responsibilities may include participating in an annual Lobby Day in Olympia and drafting legislative fact sheets on issues likely to be addressed by the state legislature.
Intake Committee for Legal Voice case docket - All attorney members of the policy workgroups will have the opportunity to serve, on a rotating basis, on the Legal Voice Intake Committee, which screens potential Legal Voice cases. By doing so, members have the opportunity to improve their understanding of our overall case docket.
More information
If you are interested in becoming a member of a Legal Voice Policy Workgroup, please submit a resume and cover letter identifying your specific workgroup interests and any related experience to:
Chloë Phalan
Legal Voice
907 Pine Street, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98101-1818
or via e-mail to cphalan@LegalVoice.org
Women's rights. Nothing less.
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