Nigeria’s Francis Adewale becomes Washington State Bar Association President

A Nigerian from Ilesa in Osun State, Mr Francis Adewale, has become the new President of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA).

Elected in September, Adewale will for the next year lead WSBA, which regulates the professional practice of about 40,000 legal practitioners in the Washington area.

A press statement signed by the Communications Manager of WSBA, Jennifer Olegario, said Adewale’s career has been defined by his staunch advocacy for the rights of all, particularly in Eastern Washington, where he has practised movement lawyering and served with the City of Spokane Public Defender’s Office since 2000. He brings a brand of leadership that is focused on the needs of both the legal community and the public.

“As president, I want every legal practitioner in Washington to know that I see you—the WSBA sees you—and we’ve got your back.

“Together we will—in the immortal words of Dr Martin Luther King Jr—continue to bend the arc of justice,”Adewale said.

The statement added that Adewale’s commitment is evidenced by his roles in key organisations, including the Washington State Access to Justice Board, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and the Spokane Homeless Coalition. He is also a Fellow of the Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) and a two-time former WSBA treasurer.

Executive Director of WSBA, Terra Nevitt, commended Adewale’s leadership, saying, “We are so lucky to have such a committed advocate and salt-of-the-Earth human being like Francis lead our organisation over the next year in this pivotal moment

“For our profession, I can think of few people better suited to guide the WSBA toward being a more dedicated and responsive organisation for our members and the communities in which we live.”

A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he obtained his law degree, Adewale was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 and was later admitted to the WSBA in 2000. He also holds an honours degree from Eastern Washington University and serves as adjunct faculty at Whitworth University and Gonzaga Law School.

As president, Adewale will confront the many challenges facing legal professionals and has vowed to support WSBA members on issues ranging from legal technology and waning public trust in institutions to lawyer health and wellness.

Adewale’s dedication has earned him several honours, including the City of Spokane Human Rights Award and the 2018 WSBA APEX Award of Merit for his role in founding the Spokane Community Court.