Ruth Laura Edlund

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

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.

MY EXPERTISE: Twenty-six 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, Pierce and Snohomish County rules and procedures. Innovative and efficient researcher.

Upon graduation from law school, I clerked for the late James M. Sprouse, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. To my knowledge Judge Sprouse was the only judicial officer at the time who was both a former Golden Gloves boxer and a former CIA agent. None of that has rubbed off on me. 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, five years as a sole practitioner, and six years as a partner in my current firm. 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. 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.

EDUCATION: Columbia University, J.D., 1983. Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Lawrence A. Wien Scholarship.

Bryn Mawr College, A.B., magna cum laude with departmental honors, 1980.

BAR ADMISSIONS: 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: Family Law Section King County Bar Association (Officer, 2002-2005)

Family Law Section, Washington State Bar Association (Member, Family Law Executive Committee, 2008-2011).

LANGUAGES: Russian and Polish

AUTHOR/LECTURER: "The Seven Deadly Subjects," "Family Law Basics," 2004; "Parenting Responsibility in Washington State," 2005; "Developing Your Family Law Practice" (chair),"Ethical Considerations in Relationship Agreements," 2006. "Development of Parenting Plans," 2007. "A Roadmap Through Dissolution Proceedings," 2008. "Drafting Good Declarations," "Division of Property and Parenting Plans," 2009.

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(d)(3)(2006).