RIP, Paula Littlewood

12/15/2020

by Tom Gordon

​Yesterday, our community lost one of its great advocates, as Paula Littlewood died after a battle with cancer. Paula served as the executive director of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) for twelve years, and had served on Responsive Law's board of directors for the last two years.

Paula's work with the WSBA gave her a leading role in what used to be a pioneering state in reforming regulation of the legal industry to benefit its consumers. She helped launch the state's Limited License Legal Technician, and fought hard against forces that led to its elimination earlier this year. Her support for consumer-focused regulation and opposition to the self-governing cartel that regulates the legal industry did not please everyone at the WSBA, and she was dismissed from her job as executive director, over the strong opposition of several supporters on the Washington Supreme Court.

Paula blessed us all with a generous spirit. Even as she battled illness, she continued to volunteer for us, while at the same time serving as a high school volleyball coach, and working with Seattle Humane to improve the lives of animals. She had a passion for all of these projects, as well as a passion for life, which was cut short too soon. I will miss her, but will continue to be inspired by that passion in working toward a legal system for all the people.