The King County Bar Association (KCBA) was founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1906 as a voluntary professional association. Today the mission of the King County Bar Association is to provide support to its diverse membership, promote a just, collegial and accessible legal system and profession, work with the judiciary to achieve excellence in the administration of justice, strive to benefit the community through its own efforts and those of its Foundation, and offer opportunities for public service and input into matters of public policy.Headed by a 17-member Board of Trustees, the bar currently has over 5,000 members, a staff of 40 and a budget of some 3 million dollars. The Executive Director as chief administrative officer is responsible for the organization, operation and supervision of Association activities, as guided by policies and goals established by the Trustees of the King County Bar Association, King County Bar Foundation, King County Bar Institute and Young Lawyers Division (YLD). YLD, a division of KCBA, consists of attorneys who are 36 years old or younger or attorneys who have been practicing for 5 years or less. YLD has a separate Board of Trustees and budget process. Of the 12,000 attorneys in King County approximately 50% belong to KCBA and a portion of these participate in its programs.Serving the members:The core activities of the King County Bar Association are typical of a professional association of lawyers. Over 20 committees and 15 sections meet monthly in our conference rooms or at law offices in downtown Seattle. Our Continuing Legal Education Department has a vibrant program offering some 30-35 continuing legal education (CLE) seminars each year to attorneys, judges and the public. KCBA offers many networking opportunities to its members, including socials, the annual awards dinner and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. luncheon. Our monthly newspaper, the Bar Bulletin, features articles about substantive areas of the law as well as information about KCBA programs and activities. YLD and bar committees produce legal publications of interest to attorneys and the community. Attorneys enjoy a variety of benefits through membership in the organization, including group insurance plans and discounts on services and products. Our diversity programs work to increase diversity in the legal profession at all stages of the pipeline, from high school to law firm, to support a diverse bar and bench.The Lawyer Referral Service benefits both the public and KCBA members who register for the service. Referrals are made on a regular fee basis in most areas of law after the callers are screened by an intake interviewer. The service is certified by the American Bar Association and attorneys must meet certain requirements to register for the panel.Improving the justice system:Working to improve the administration of justice is an important part of the King County Bar Associations mission. Sitting judges, commissioners and magistrates are honorary KCBA members and work collaboratively on many KCBA committees and projects. The Bench Bar Conference is a recurring opportunity for members of the legal profession and the judiciary to come together to discuss topics of common interest.KCBA provides information to the public on judicial performance and suitability through regular attorney surveys and a special screening committee that rates judges in contested elections. The bar also participates in a coalition of organizations and interested individuals (the Judicial Selection Coalition) which explores ways to improve the process of selecting judges in Washington state.