Our favorite events

PALS sponsors or co-sponsors three key events each year.
Fall Festival: During fall quarter, we co-sponsor and help organize the Fall Festival. This event welcomes parents and children from the law school and beyond. Students, faculty and staff all are encouraged to bring their children to an afternoon event with costumes, food, an inflatable bouncer castle, and booths sponsored by the law school's most active organizations. Fall Festival is a great way for students to introduce their children to friends, and for children, spouses and partners to see where their parents spend all their time. Those of us who have brought children to the Fall Festival have found that our kids talk about it all year long and feel more comfortable in their understanding of where we go during the day.

Winter clothing drive: We collect new and used clothing, toys and equipment, as well as unperishable food and diapers, to distribute to Childhaven, a Seattle agency that provides daycare and therapy for abused and drug-addicted children aged birth-5 years. Our decision to help Childhaven grew out of the feeling that we are incredibly lucky to have the opportunities we have, and we would like to share our good fortune with others.

Spring work-life balance panel: We invite parent-lawyers in different professional situations to come to the UW to talk about their experiences and the choices they've made in balancing career and family. This is an issue that appeals to many, and it tends to draw more than 100 students every year.

In addition, PALS participates in orientation activities and other law school activities throughout the year. We try to hold monthly casual get-togethers at a coffee shop near the law school, as well as spring sessions on advice for picking classes for the next year.