I have been a lawyer for over twenty years. From January 2011 to April 2013, I served as a Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner. I presided over family law, probate/estate, guardianship, mental illness, juvenile court, landlord tenant, mortgage foreclosure, and other matters. While on the bench, I saw many family law cases which would have been more effectively and humanly handled with a well-trained collaborative team. I chose to leave the bench and to return to private practice. My practice focuses on family law--primarily divorce, legal separation, and child custody. My prior experience as a social worker and my mediation skills are essential to helping others to handle stress and to focus on long-term goals. Serving on the bench has sharpened my ability to present an objective perspective and to assist a potential client in evaluating alternatives.
Credentials
Washington State Bar Association license since 1991 30 Hour Mediation Training for Collaborative Law, Institute for Advanced Center for Dispute Resolution, 2006 Basic Collaborative Law Training, 2006 Introductory 3-Day Interdisciplinary Team Training, 2006 Advanced Training for Lawyers and Financial Professionals, 2009 Washington State Judicial College, 2011