I was born in San Jose, California, and moved to Washington when I was very young. I went to the University of Washington, where I studied philosophy and economics, and was the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) president. I then thoroughly enjoyed living in New York City during law school at Columbia University. I have been happily married for 35 years, a proud mother of two fabulous adults, and a mediator for 25 years, most of that time with WAMS.
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How is being a lawyer different from the way you thought it would be?
When I shifted from litigation advocacy to mediation I wondered if it would be hard to be neutral. This essential aspect of the role was easier to achieve than I thought. I quickly learned that remaining curious, asking a lot of questions, and listening carefully elucidates the nuance and perspective in any conflict. There truly is, always, more to a conflict than what we see on the surface. Paying attention to and understanding both presenting and underlying issues and connecting compassionately with the decision-makers and their advisors supports neutrality.
How did you become interested in your practice area?
I was interested in mediation when I first took a “new” alternative dispute resolution course in law school. It just made sense. After many years of litigating, I became more interested in mediation because I witnessed the psychological and financial harm of litigation for my clients. Some cases need a court determination, but the vast majority can be resolved with skilled negotiation and, when needed, the help of a mediator. I love mediating because it allows for addressing the whole person and seeing all the factors contributing to a conflict. It sometimes offers clients an opportunity to learn or shift perspective, and always offers an opportunity to assess risk and tradeoffs, keys to reaching settlement. It does all this while offering lawyers and their clients a forum far less demanding than trial prep and trial. It’s particularly gratifying to help lawyers resolve a case that they thought was beyond hope of resolution without a trial and help their clients reach closure.
How do you define success as a lawyer?
Successful lawyers are those who have figured out how to help others while sustaining themselves. Successful lawyering requires long hours, dedication, critical thinking skills, and attentive listening skills. It is demanding work. Successful lawyering requires humility balanced with confidence. Understanding and practicing this balance is key to a lawyer’s sustainability and happiness, and thus their ability to keep helping others.
At the end of your career, how would you like to be remembered professionally?
I hope to be remembered as a creative, tenacious mediator with strong interpersonal skills and integrity who always gave it her all to help clients reach agreement. . . .
LIGHTNING ROUND
If you had to give a 10-minute presentation on one topic other than the law, what would it be and why?
I would talk about cultivating connectedness and sustaining relationships, by staying curious and living in the moment, and by really listening, paying attention to details, and asking thoughtful questions. These skills contribute to both personal well-being and building community. We can practice small acts to cultivate connectedness: noticing the golden hour of light on a freshly opened peony, capturing that moment in a photo, and sharing it with friends and family, and many other ways to slow down for a moment, savor, and share.
What is one thing your colleagues may not know about you?
I was one of the “Top Ten College Women” in 1981, a Glamour magazine leadership contest for women. This allowed me to spend a day with Bella Abzug, an inspiring feminist attorney, which was part of my inspiration to go to Columbia Law School, which then led to winning a faculty award: a week clerking for Justice Thurgood Marshall.
What book have you read more than once?
Braiding Sweetgrass.
What is the last thing you watched on television?
CBS News Sunday Morning—always worth watching, especially when it includes a story from Steve Hartman.
What is the best fictional representation (TV, movie, book) of a lawyer?
Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I love seeing the success of an attorney who is different from her peers.
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