Washington Lawyers Turn Up the Volume at Law Rocks Seattle

ARTICLE BY NOEL S. BRADY  |   PHOTOS BY LOGAN JENKINS

The jury’s back, and the verdict is guilty—guilty of bringing down the house, that is.

A band of mostly Seattle-area attorneys, The Funk Docket, couldn’t deny the charge after delivering the groove with a blistering bass at the second Seattle showing of Law Rocks, an international battle of bands made up of lawyers competing for charity.

A seminal Seattle venue, The Crocodile filled to nearly max capacity on a September evening as legal professionals in polos and pencil skirts twizzled their gin and tonics in collegial anticipation for fellow litigators to take the stage. 

Asked which came first: the desire to be a lawyer or a rock star, Claire White replied, “To be a lawyer, for sure.” White sings like a willowy Patti Smith for her band of attorneys called Force Majeure. “It’s fun to get dressed up and prance around a stage for the night. But, as lawyers, we get to use our skills and our voices every day to speak up for our clients and for our communities.”

Force Majeure stunned the audience with a languid version of “Dancing Barefoot,” a 1979 song by Patti Smith. The band formed in 2018 with White and a core group of her colleagues at K&L Gates in Seattle. Since then, they’ve played a few of their firm’s social engagements and now twice at Law Rocks.

“It was a great way to meld our personal interests as lawyers and musicians, and to support [our chosen charity] Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and the really important and impactful work they are doing for our immigrant communities every day,” White said. “We’re excited for Law Rocks 2026!”

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MORE ONLINE > Watch a video of the event at https://lawrocks.org/news/2025/sea#video.

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Law Rocks began in London in 2009 as a way for members of the legal profession to showcase their musical alter egos while raising money for causes they care about. The concept struck a chord—quickly spreading to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and a dozen other cities around the world. Each event pairs bands of legal professionals with local nonprofits, creating an evening that blends rock, rivalry, and philanthropy.

This year’s Seattle show drew hundreds of attendees and six bands composed of attorneys, judges, and legal staff from around the region. The night opened with the off-kilter duo The Lumberjax, hamming it up through Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and George Michael’s “Faith.” From classic rock to pop to funk to indie, the night offered something for everyone — with all proceeds benefiting local nonprofits.

For Craig Sims, drummer and former trial lawyer for Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, The Funk Docket is more than a band—it’s a community. “We come from different corners of the legal world,” Sims said, “but music breaks down all the hierarchies. It’s just rhythm, friendship, and purpose.”

The group’s lineup includes public defenders, firm attorneys, and in-house counsel united by a love of 1970s funk and rhythm & blues. Since their first Law Rocks appearance in 2024, the band has become a favorite among Seattle legal circles. Onstage, The Funk Docket lived up to its name. Through infectious renditions of Parliament’s “Give Up the Funk” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” their rhythm section held the beat, while frontwoman Courtney Jones commanded the mic with the raw sensual energy of Chaka Khan.

Last year’s Law Rocks was a rock-n-roll rebirth for The Funk Docket’s guitarist Ed Moore, of counsel for Stritmatter Law. He grew up playing piano and bass guitar, but when his friend Sims called to offer him a spot in the band, he had to rummage through his closet to find a 1970s Les Paul guitar he bought decades ago and seldom used.

“I remembered just enough of the basic pentatonic or blues scale to pick it up and make sounds that didn’t annoy me completely,” Moore said. “I spent a lot of time just trying to get the basics of the electric guitar while we were all isolated due to the pandemic.”

After a year of home practice, Moore said, he found his chops and the nerve to play in front of his colleagues. “We’re trying to keep it going. The problem, I think, is you get too many lawyers and too many schedules.”

Each Law Rocks band selects a charity to champion. For The Funk Docket, Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE) was an easy choice, Sims said. Founded by Seattle educator Calvin Lyons, ACE focuses on empowering young Black men and boys through mentorship, leadership development, and academic support.

“We intentionally selected them last year, and we continue to partner with them this year as well, with the intention of raising funds and highlighting the organization to those who may not be aware of it,” he said. “They’re providing educational, emotional, and other related support for young men who need it between the ages of, I believe, 13 to 24.”

“Their work is about building confidence and identity. They’re not just preparing students for college—they’re preparing them to lead in whatever space they choose. That mission resonates with us.”

This year’s Law Rocks Seattle raised $105,000 for local charities. In addition to ACE, other organizations that benefited from the proceeds included Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Rebuilding Hope, Seattle Humane Society, The Troy & Baden Biddle Foundation, and Teen Talking Circles.

A nonprofit corporation, Law Rocks has raised more than $9 million for charity since its founding and toured 31 cities. Its mission is to promote music education for underprivileged kids and raise funds for local nonprofit organizations.

For some of the performers on stage at the Crocodile gig, Law Rocks is an opportunity to pursue old passions. Some even discover their creative pursuits can intersect with their professional ones.

“The lawyering skills that helped us most on stage were the importance of full and deliberate preparation,” said White of Force Majeure. “We were proud of how we played together, and we thought that our set showcased each of our bandmates’ skills and individual contributions. That team-based approach also reflects how K&L Gates approaches lawyering and client service.”