I am a very experienced civil litigator who is seeking to take a step back from the stress and instead, help other attorneys be successful by working behind the scenes. These are your clients and your cases, I work as your support like a paralegal (but with an enhanced skill set), not as an attorney. For example, I have strong legal research and writing skills. If you do not have time to get that trial brief done in between preparing witnesses, that is something I can help with. Or, if you are too busy meeting with clients to draft their complaints, petitions, responses, etc., allow me to help you with those. Need to bring a summary judgment motion but just do not have the time to draft it, I would love to help out. While an Associate Attorney at the Law Office of Robert Helland, I brought an appeal to Division II of the Washington State Court of Appeals, won the case, and created new caselaw when they published the opinion. In re the Marriage of Robertson, 113 Wn.App. 711, 54 P.3d 708 (2002)
I can also review depositions and assist with discovery from conception to completion. While at the Law Offices of John Francis Kennedy, I spent a great deal of time handling and searching depositions. Investigating the worthiness of bringing a case can also be crucial, and I have a strong ability to spot potential pitfalls or avenues of success or do the investigative work necessary to be able to evaluate a case.
In practice, I focused on family law, estate planning, domestic violence, personal injury, insurance defense, civil rights and governmental tort liability defense, and a few misdemeanors. I have experience in other areas as well; however, those are the areas I am strongest in. My time practicing was in Washington State (including the Western District of Washington); however, I am willing and even desire to learn other jurisdictions. If your case is in the Seattle/Tacoma/Everett area, I may even be available for off-line, in person work at your office or in court.
In addition, I also have very strong administrative skills. I can type, have incredible organizational ability, and the nick-name given to me from my last employer is “details.” I am able to get along well with most people and have empathetic customer service/client skills. I am a very good listener, so if one of your clients just needs to feel heard on their case, a law firm quality that leads to long-term client retention or good reviews, I can sit on the phone with them taking notes for a much lower rate than you. If your case has a lot of witnesses and you do not have time to prepare them all for trial, I can certainly assist with that task. I am also experienced at putting trial binders together and preparing ER904s.
Wherever you have a need for an extra set of hands and legal brain, whatever you find you just do not have the time to get to and keep your quality of life sane, whenever you just need a break and for someone else to jump in and do what you need them to do, I am who is ready and available to assist.
Estate Planner
