Ruth Laura Edlund

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." --Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter From The Birmingham Jail."

Ruth Laura Edlund

MY MISSION

My mission is to explain and interpret the legal system, to guide my clients through that system from crisis to resolution, and to seek more perfect justice, first for my clients, then for all.

MY METHODS I devote personal attention to persons with family law problems in Western Washington state. I maximize the value of my time to clients through the thoughtful integration of current technology into my practice. I reduce the enviromental impact of my business on the planet by reducing consumption, reusing, and recycling whenever possible.

SUMMARY OF EXPERTISE Twenty years of progressive litigation experience, emphasizing family law since 1992. Every aspect of cases handled, from pre-filing investigations to enforcement of judgments. Familiar with King and Snohomish County rules and procedures. Innovative and efficient researcher. Practice Areas Family Law; Civil Practice Education Columbia University, J.D., 1983, Bryn Mawr College, A.B., magna cum laude, 1980 Admitted 1984, New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; 1985, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; 1987, Washington, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Memberships King County (Officer, 2002-2005, Family Law Section), Washington State and American Bar Associations. Languages Russian and Polish Born Auburn, New York, June 22, 1958 Biography Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Recipient, Lawrence A. Wien Scholarship. Law Clerk to Hon. James M. Sprouse, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1983-1984. Author/Lecturer: "The Seven Deadly Subjects," "Family Law Basics," 2004; "Parenting Responsibility in Washington State", 2005; "Developing Your Family Law Practice" (chair), 2006; "Ethical Considerations in Relationship Agreements", Volunteer, Family Mentor Program, 1988-1989, 1999-2001, 2005. Recipient, President's Pro Bono Award, New York State Bar Association, 1985.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS J.D. 1983, Columbia University School of Law, NY, NY A.B. 1980, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Admitted to practice law in New York and Washington state Graduated in 1983 from Columbia University School of Law, where I was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and magna cum laude with departmental Honors (in Russian) from Bryn Mawr College in 1980, attending what was then known as Leningrad State University in 1979. I clerked for the Honorable James M. Sprouse, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. To my knowledge Judge Sprouse is the only living federal judge who is both a former Golden Gloves boxer and a former CIA agent. None of that has rubbed off on me. I am licensed to practice law in New York (1984) and Washington state (1987), and am admitted to practice before a number of federal circuit and district courts hither, thither, and yon. The New York State Bar Association granted me a President's Pro Bono Award in 1986 for my activities for The Legal Aid Society in New York City. My experience includes acting as research assistant for two professors at Columbia, practice at very large firms in New York City and Seattle, work as a Special Deputy Prosecutor for the King County Prosecutor's Office, a short stint as an in-house corporate attorney, and five years as a sole practitioner. In addition, I spent five years as the managing attorney of the Family Law Mentor Program of the King County Bar Association before founding my own firm in 1998. This worthwhile program recruits and trains volunteer attorneys to represent low-income clients in parenting plan disputes with children in danger. I continue to volunteer my time to this program as a mentor to newer attorneys, though I regret that I am unable to take on individual pro bono cases at this time. I belong to the King County Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. In addition, my firm is a member of the Recycled Paper Coalition and participates in King County Greenworks. Most of the above organizations will accept anyone who sends them money, with the exception of the last two groups, which let me in for free. On the other hand, I had to take a two-and-a-half-day long exam to join the Washington State Bar Association, and I must remain a member as long as I want to practice law in this state. Please note that the Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law. Any certificate, award or recognition by a group, organization or association used by a Washington attorney to describe his or her qualifications as a lawyer or qualifications in any subspecialty of law is not a requirement to practice law in the State of Washington. See Washington Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.4(b) (1997)