In each issue of Bar News, WSBA President Adewale will ask one Washington legal professional, one “Hero of Justice,” to share how they came to practice law.
Daniel D. Clark
Yakima Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
My path to becoming an attorney was deeply influenced by my lifelong stuttering speech disability. Growing up, I endured years of bullying and ridicule due to the stutter, and regrettably, I ultimately dropped out of school at the start of the eighth grade. At the time, I tragically made the mistake of letting other people’s reaction to my speech disability nearly permanently derail my hopes and dreams and prevent me from pursuing higher education or dream of a professional career.
After a few years of not being in school, when I was 16, I luckily came to recognize this monumental mistake, and I ultimately returned to school, skipping the eighth grade, determined to rebuild my future and not let my stuttering hold me back. While incredibly difficult, through sheer grit and perseverance, I excelled in high school, undergrad and eventually earned a full scholarship to law school.
At Gonzaga law school, despite it being difficult with the Socratic method, rather than me viewing my stutter as a barrier, I learned to see it as a source of strength, authenticity, and it truly has taught me to be a much more active listener, work harder than most, and master exceptional memorization skills. Ultimately, I graduated with honors from Gonzaga University School of Law.
Years later, after a career in public service, I had the distinct honor of serving over eight years on the WSBA Board of Governors, which is longer than any WSBA member to date. I served multiple terms as District 4 governor, treasurer, and the fiscal year 2023 WSBA president. My journey from an eighth-grade dropout to FY 23 WSBA president reflects a lifelong belief in hard work, redemption, and service. Despite numerous microaggressions and adversity, I’m extremely proud to represent a profession that upholds justice and integrity and to hopefully serve as a reminder that one’s beginnings, or disability, do not determine one’s capacity to lead, or to contribute and serve meaningfully.