We are excited to spotlight Elaine Lee, a distinguished legal professional who currently serves as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, in our King County Washington Women Lawyers November Newsletter.

With over seven years of dedicated service, Elaine has been a pivotal figure in the pursuit of justice within King County. She began her tenure at the office in February 2017 as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and was promoted to her current role in January 2024.

Elaine's legal journey is marked by a robust academic foundation. She earned her Juris Doctor (JD) from Seattle University School of Law in 2014, following her Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Washington in 2011. Her educational background in communication and law has equipped her with a unique perspective and skill set, enhancing her effectiveness in the legal field.

In addition to her prosecutorial duties, Elaine has a strong commitment to community service. She volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Family Law CASA from July 2012 to May 2014, where she played a crucial role in advocating for the best interests of children in the family court system.

Elaine's professional experience is diverse and includes a significant role as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Second Circuit Court in the State of Hawaii. Her multifaceted career also spans internships and externships across various legal and journalistic domains, including positions at the Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons and the Criminal Prosecuting Attorney's Office - Juvenile Division in Snohomish County.

Elaine's commitment to justice, coupled with her extensive legal expertise and community involvement, makes her a vital asset to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and an inspiring figure in the legal community.

1. Could you share with us what inspired you to pursue a career in law, and specifically in prosecution?

I’ve always wanted to be in criminal law since I was a kid. The idea of working on the most violent cases is what drew me to it, and the knowledge that the work is so important and impacts the lives of others in the community is what keeps me in it.

2. As a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, what are your primary responsibilities, and what does a typical day look like for you?

As a senior, I’m considered more of a mentor to junior deputies, so I’m expected to be available to assist those who need help or have questions. I still have my regular duties (currently in violent crimes unit), but the work of seniors is held to a higher standard as being more experienced prosecutors.

I’m currently on maternity leave, but my day-to-day varied. It would depend on whether I was in trial, had hearings scheduled, had interviews, or had to write briefing. Every day is different for me, and each case brings on a different set of issues.

3. You have also volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). How has this role impacted your perspective on the legal system and your work as a prosecutor?

Being a CASA definitely impacted my work/perspective. I had to interview multiple individuals in the children’s lives and ultimately write up recommendations with regard to custody/visitation. I think that work helped me gain perspective that the work I do directly impacts not only the parties to the case but their families as well. I try to gather all the facts I can before coming to conclusions, because I know the decisions I make have heavy impacts on people’s lives.

4. What advice would you give to young women who are aspiring to enter the legal field, especially those interested in pursuing a career in prosecution?

Apologize less (I’m still working on this), and don’t feel guilty for focusing on your own career. It’s possible to have a family, prioritize them, and still have a successful career. I have two children: a daughter (2 years old) and a son (almost 5 months old). I will admit that I felt a sense of guilt when I told my boss about my second pregnancy, like I was slacking on my work for going on leave a second time. I quickly got over this guilt and had to remind myself of how hard I work for the office, and I’m entitled to this leave to bond with my child.

5. How do you manage to balance the demands of your professional life with your personal life? Do you have any strategies or tips that have worked well for you?

Since I started in the office, I’ve been in trial rotations majority of the time. Once I had my first child, I knew I had to take a step back and try out a non-trial rotation to be there for my child as she started daycare and had all the illnesses that came with it. I’ve been learning as I go in this motherhood journey, and I decided it was time to go back to trials while I was pregnant with my second child. It was tough juggling my pregnancy and caring for my daughter four evenings out of the week while my husband worked, but we made it work. I sacrificed my sleep on more nights than I care to admit, but it was worth it for me to be in trial rotations again until my second child was born. As I return back to work a second time, I plan to do another non-trial rotation until that itch to do trials returns. I say all of this because I’m still trying to figure it out myself, as our family has been growing, but good communication with my office and partner has been so helpful for me in balancing both my personal life and work.

We are excited to spotlight Vera P. Fomina, a founding partner of Skidmore & Fomina, PLLC, in our King County Washington Women Lawyers October Newsletter.

Vera P. Fomina is a dedicated attorney specializing in employment law, with a focus on disputes related to discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, retaliation, and wages. Vera leverages her extensive experience to represent employees on matters including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, USERRA, the Washington Minimum Wage Act, and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. She has a proven track record of successfully litigating in both federal and state courts and before agencies such as the EEOC and DOL.

Before establishing her firm in 2018, Vera counseled employers and represented businesses of all sizes in employment litigation, EEOC investigations, and DOL audits. She is admitted to practice in Washington, Texas (inactive), and multiple U.S. District Courts.

Vera earned her J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is actively involved in professional organizations including the Washington State Association for Justice, Washington Employment Law Association, and the Society for Human Resources Management.

Fluent in Russian, Swedish, and German, Vera has achieved significant settlements and verdicts for her clients, including a $1.5 million jury verdict against a national healthcare company for retaliation and wrongful termination.

Outside the courtroom, Vera is an active member of her community, participating in the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce and several bar associations. Her numerous accolades include being named a Super Lawyer in 2023 and a Rising Star from 2018 to 2022.

When she’s not advocating for her clients, Vera enjoys immersing herself in different cultures and languages, reflecting her passion for continuous learning and community engagement.

Career Transition and Motivation: You have experience representing both employers and employees in employment matters. What motivated your transition to primarily representing employees, and how has this shift impacted your approach to legal advocacy?

I began my career in Texas working on the employer defense side. I transitioned to plaintiff's side when I moved to Washington state in 2014. I quickly discovered a profound passion for representing employees. This shift gave me a fresh perspective on my job and career, inspired and motivated me by allowing me to better understand the real struggles and emotional toll people face when they lose their jobs. Advocating for individuals who are going through tough times and helping them through the civil justice system toward financial compensation is what truly motivates me each day. Building a relationship of trust and being of service to my clients is something I deeply value.

Gender Discrimination Issues in the Workplace: Can you share some insights on current trends you’re observing in gender discrimination and bias within the cases you’re handling? Specifically, what types of issues are becoming more prevalent, and how are these trends impacting the way cases are approached and resolved?

Throughout my career, I have handled numerous cases involving gender discrimination. It is both disheartening and remarkable to observe that these issues persist so prevalently in contemporary society. Despite the progress made in recent years through new laws aimed at ensuring equality and equal opportunity—such as those mandating equal pay, prohibiting the confidentiality of sexual harassment issues, providing pregnancy leave and accommodations for lactating mothers—I still see multiple scenarios where women are experiencing significant problems in the workplace. For instance, I frequently encounter situations where women in executive roles are denied career growth opportunities and are paid substantially less than their male counterparts. Many women continue facing unfair treatment related to their pregnancy or maternity leave. The issue of inadequate accommodations for lactating mothers also persists, impacting their ability to balance work and breastfeeding. These persistent issues highlight the need for ongoing vigilance and advocacy to achieve true gender equality in the workplace.

Advice for Aspiring Female Lawyers: As an accomplished lawyer and founder of your own firm, what advice would you give to women pursuing a career in law? How can they navigate challenges and leverage opportunities in the legal profession?

Having navigated the complexities of the legal profession and founded my own firm, I understand the unique challenges that women may encounter as they pursue careers in law. My advice stems from both personal experience and observations of successful women in the field.

First and foremost, believe in yourself and your abilities. Confidence is key in a profession that often demands assertiveness and resilience. Trust in your skills and knowledge, and never underestimate the value of your perspective and contributions.

Secondly, seek out mentors and allies who can provide guidance and support. Building a strong network within the legal community is crucial for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. Look for mentors who can offer advice on career progression, work-life balance, and overcoming obstacles.

Thirdly, embrace continuous learning and professional development. The legal landscape is constantly evolving, and staying updated on legal trends and developments will enhance your credibility and effectiveness as a lawyer. Pursue additional training, attend seminars, and engage in professional organizations to expand your knowledge base.

Furthermore, advocate for yourself and others. Women often face unique obstacles in the legal profession, from implicit biases to unequal opportunities. Be vocal about your achievements, advocate for fair treatment, and support initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within the legal field.

Lastly, maintain a strong work-life balance. The legal profession can be demanding, but it is essential to prioritize self-care and well-being. Set boundaries, delegate tasks when possible, and carve out time for activities that recharge you outside of work.

While challenges exist, so do countless opportunities for women in law. By staying resilient, seeking support, continuing to learn, advocating for fairness, and maintaining balance, women can not only navigate the legal profession successfully but also thrive and make significant contributions to the field.

We are excited to spotlight Christine McFadden, an associate at Davis Wright Tremaine, in our King County Washington Women Lawyers September newsletter. 

Christine is a part of the firm’s commercial litigation practice group in Seattle. Her practice includes representing clients in responding to government investigations as well as clients internally investigating and taking enforcement actions against cybercrimes, tech support fraud, and other digital threats to their platforms.  Christine also enjoys participating in the Attorneys of Color, Asian Pacific American, and Women Attorneys Affinity Groups. 

Christine earned her J.D. at the University of Washington School of Law.  During law school, Christine gained experience at both the federal and state levels of government as a law clerk for the Federal Trade Commission and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General (Civil Rights Division).  Prior to law school, she worked for six years in the technology sector as a program manager at Palantir Technologies.  Christine earned her B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University. 

When not practicing law, Christine enjoys running, swimming, baking desserts, going to concerts, and rewatching Lord of the Rings.  She and her husband have a giant Maine Coon kitty named Lilikoi (“passion fruit” in Hawaiian). 

Could you share a bit about your journey from studying at Stanford University to working at Palantir Technologies, and eventually transitioning into law? What inspired you to pursue a career in law after your experience in the technology sector?

After I graduated from Stanford, I accepted a job offer at Palantir Technologies as part of their in-house legal team specifically focusing on private equity.  I eventually transitioned to the role of program manager, working with numerous internal teams to build processes and track metrics.  As the company grew, my role grew as well, and I project managed the expansion of all international infrastructure at the company (e.g., laying the internal foundation to get boots on the ground in other countries, such as creating entities).  I was always interested in the new regulations we’d encounter in each country we expanded our business to and have always enjoyed writing—these interests inspired me to go back to school to pursue a career in law.

You are involved in several affinity groups at your firm, including Attorneys of Color, Asian Pacific American, and Women Attorneys. How have these groups impacted your professional growth and experience? Why do you think it is important for law firms to have such affinity groups?

The affinity groups I’m part of at Davis Wright Tremaine have significantly impacted my experience as a new attorney.  As a woman of color and part of two underrepresented groups in this field, I knew it was important to make connections and learn from those that had come before me.  Fortunately, I was able to do this almost immediately at DWT through attending a DEI retreat in Chicago during my first week at the firm, which made me feel a lot more comfortable starting out as a new associate.  These groups have also introduced me to multiple mentors—both associates and partners—which I’m incredibly grateful for.

What are some of your long-term career goals or aspirations within the legal field? Are there any particular areas of law or types of cases you are passionate about exploring further in your career?

I’m really enjoying my practice so far, which in part involves representing clients internally investigating and taking enforcement actions against cybercrimes.  I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of several large lawsuits suing international fraud rings and would love to continue to be a part of impactful litigation against scammers to help protect both companies and consumers.  Cybercrimes and impersonation schemes are only becoming more prevalent; helping detect and combat anonymous, bad actors is important to me.

How has mentorship played a role in your career development, and what advice would you give to those seeking mentorship in the legal field? Can you share any networking tips for young lawyers looking to make meaningful connections in the industry?

Mentorship has been key in my career development.  I’m currently expecting my fist child and several of my mentors at DWT (including through DWT’s Women Attorneys group) are also moms; I’ve benefitted from their invaluable advice and support as I navigate this new chapter of my professional career and personal life.  And to any young lawyers looking to make meaningful connections, my advice would be find anything you have in common with potential attorney mentors.  Did you both have the same major in undergrad?  Great.  Did you both study abroad in Japan?  Perfect.  In addition to identifying more overlapping interests, it can also help make those first few conversations less awkward!

We are excited to spotlight Mary Reiten, a Shareholder at Peryea Silver Taylor, in our King County Washington Women Lawyers August newsletter. 

Mary B. Reiten is a dedicated and compassionate attorney with over 20 years of experience, specializing in helping condominium associations and their members navigate complex disputes. Licensed in Washington, California, and Alaska (inactive), Mary takes pride in tailoring her legal services to the unique needs of each client, whether that means heading to court or finding solutions through mediation. Her extensive trial experience and mediation certification from the King County Dispute Resolution Center allow her to effectively resolve conflicts both inside and outside the courtroom.

Mary’s expertise spans a wide range of issues, from board powers and assessments to maintenance, construction, covenant enforcement, and interpersonal disputes. She also excels in real estate law, business litigation, and consumer law, successfully handling cases involving breach of purchase and sale agreements, auto fraud, timber trespass, easements, commission disputes, guarantees, commercial lease disputes, and partnership disputes.

Mary earned her J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) in 1998, where she was honored as a Public Interest Scholar. She also holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. Her career includes significant tenures at Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC (2013 to 2018) and Tousley Brain Stephens (2002 to 2013).

Beyond her professional achievements, Mary is deeply committed to her community. She is an active member of the Washington State Community Association Institute, Washington Women Lawyers and the Public Justice Foundation. Mary also finds great fulfillment in volunteering as a mediator at the King County Dispute Resolution Center, where she helps people find common ground and resolve their differences.

Mary’s dedication to her clients goes beyond just legal advice—she genuinely cares about finding the best possible outcomes for them. Her compassionate approach and vast experience make her a trusted advocate for those she serves.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and what led you to specialize in representing condominium associations and their members?

My ex-husband and I owned a series of restaurants in Oakland, California. Our first restaurant ended up in litigation as the shareholders fought amongst themselves about the best way to run/expand the restaurant. Several thousand dollars in legal fees later I decided to go to law school. 

After getting divorced during law school, I didn’t know what area of law I wanted to practice in, but I knew I wanted to litigate. So, I clerked for three years in superior court – one year in Alaska State Superior Court in Sitka, Alaska, and two years in San Francisco Superior Court in California. While at San Francisco Superior I met attorneys from Lieff, Cabraser, Heiman & Bernstein, who practiced plaintiff’s side class action law. I joined that law firm because I was impressed by the high quality of their work product. After a year I decided to move out of the Bay Area, and came to work at Tousley Brain Stephens, PLLC, here in Seattle, where I practiced plaintiff’s side class action litigation and later focused on real estate litigation. It is at Tousley where I started working with homeowners and community associations. I have worked with homeowners and community associations since 2005, with a five-year detour at Terrell Marshall Law Group, where I once again practiced plaintiff’s class action law. I have been at Peryea Silver Taylor, PS for four years and became a shareholder on July 1, 2024. We represent mainly associations, though occasionally we will take a homeowner client. I handle the litigation in the office. Homeowner association litigation is highly diverse. I have deal with governing document interpretation, parliamentary procedure, Fair Housing Act issues, assessment disputes, vendor breach of contract claims, construction defects, insurance coverage disputes, easements, adverse possession, timber trespass, landlord tenant issues, and other issues related to associations. There is a dearth of attorneys out there who represent homeowners as most attorneys would rather represent the associations, so there is opportunity out there for someone who wants it.

You have held numerous leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Judicial Evaluation Committee for Washington Women Lawyers. How has your involvement in professional associations influenced your career, and what advice would you give to women lawyers looking to take on leadership roles?

I have always enjoyed being involved in the legal community. Right now, I volunteer as a mediator in small claims court; I chair the ADR committee for the Washington Community Associations Institute; and am co-chair of KCWWL’s JEC. I love volunteering because it brings me into contact with amazing individuals and programs. The only advice I have is to be curious and open to possibilities. Accept the invitations. Go to the events. Make the connections. You will find the programs that inspire you.

What key pieces of advice would you give to women entering the legal profession today, especially those interested in following a similar path to yours?

I have always been adventurous. I moved to Alaska in my first year of practice thinking I would practice there. For personal reasons that did not work out, so I moved back to Oakland, California. When a job possibility opened up in Seattle I jumped on it. Every time I was presented with an opportunity I took it. So, be open to possibilities. 

Also, learn how to write. Writing is the most important skill an attorney can have. 

Over your 20+ years of practice, what have been some of the most significant changes in the legal landscape, particularly for women lawyers? How have you navigated these changes?

I think women have made strides during my career. Compared to the beginning of my career, I see more women partners and more women owning their own law firms. Three of the four law firms I have worked for have had a majority of female attorneys and two were majority women owned. There are also far more women on the bench.

When millennial attorneys started to appear in the workplace some of the older generation were at a bit of a loss as to how to deal with them. The millennials would question what we considered to be normal workplace behavior, such as why we worked such long hours and on weekends and/or put our work ahead of our families. And some millennials found it very hard to take criticism of their work. We had to adjust our expectations and learn new ways of communicating. I think this has been a net positive for the legal industry and the attorneys who work in it. 

Technology has been the biggest change over the course of my career. When I was externing for the California Attorney General in law school we did not have access to either Westlaw or Lexis for research – we did it the old-fashioned way with books. The database program we used to review documents was positively stone age. I also used law books a great deal in addition to the legal databases when clerking for both Alaska Superior and San Franscisco Superior. I don’t use books at all anymore as most are now available digitally. 

I did not own a cell phone until the fourth year of my career. I owned the first generation of the Blackberry, which was very basic and only handled email. And remote connections to office servers were pretty wonky. The evolution of smartphones and the ability to work remotely has significantly changed how law is practiced and how I practice law. I think everyone should take full advantage of it. I now work from home almost 100 percent and wish I had had the technology to do so earlier in my career.

We are excited to spotlight Samantha (Sam) Hunt, Associate at Perkins Coie LLP, in our June 2024 edition of King County Washington Women Lawyers monthly newsletter.

Samantha Hunt is a patent litigation associate with experience in U.S. district court, U.S. International Trade Commission, and Patent Trial and Appeal Board matters. She is well versed in invalidity and noninfringement analysis, claim construction proceedings, discovery, motion practice, patent damages analysis, and issues unique to fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) encumbered patents.

Samantha’s background in project management and flight testing helps her efficiently navigate complex matters to achieve positive outcomes for her clients at every stage of litigation. She has successfully petitioned for inter partes review proceedings and authored winning motions for summary judgment. Samantha also has experience in various technical fields, including video and audio codecs, data security and file management, semiconductors, software, aircraft, and life sciences.

Samantha earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, where she served as an intern in the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, providing comprehensive intellectual property evaluation and advice to entrepreneurs and student inventors. Prior to attending law school, Samantha earned bachelor and master of science degrees in aeronautics and astronautics engineering, with a focus on structural analysis, from Purdue University. Throughout her 10-year career in the aviation industry, Samantha refurbished aging military aircraft and participated in every stage of flight testing and certification for new and modified civilian and military aircraft.

Questions and Answers

Your journey as an aeronautics and astronautics engineer to a patent litigation associate is both unique and inspiring. Can you share what motivated you to transition from engineering to law, specifically into the specialized field of patent litigation, and how your engineering background has influenced your approach to legal challenges in intellectual property law?

I honestly never considered becoming a lawyer until I had the opportunity to serve as the jury foreperson on an inquest into an officer-involved shooting that resulted in a fatality. When I was called for jury duty, I was in the last semester of my master’s program at Purdue and was considering whether I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in engineering with one of my favorite professors. Specifically, I wanted to study and analyze damage tolerance, maintenance, and repair of the type of composite materials rapidly being adopted in the aviation industry for large structural components, such as fuselage and wing skins and their accompanying structural stiffeners. Although I was deeply curious and passionate about my potential area of study, I was also working full time as a flight test engineer; realistically, I knew pursuing a Ph.D. would merely be a passion project to satisfy my intellectual curiosity without providing any precise advantage to my current engineering career.

I remember weighing my options as I sat in the large jury room, waiting to find out if I would be called. Before anyone was called for the day, an attorney addressed all potential jurors to impress the importance of jurors in the legal process, thank us for our service, and express her disappointment that she herself had never had the opportunity to serve on a jury. It really made me excited for the process. Once I was seated on the jury, the judge further impressed how rare it was to serve as a juror on an inquest and explained that we, as jurors, would get the chance to pose questions to the witnesses (which the attorneys and judge would review before asking). I remember feeling great pride every time a question I posed was relayed to a witness.

When I returned to work after the inquest and told my colleagues how much I enjoyed the experience, I began getting a common reply: “You know so-and-so, who used to work here, is now a lawyer. You should talk to them.” So I did. My biggest takeaway after talking to all these former engineers turned lawyers was that one of the best parts of their job was that they get paid to learn new things for a living. I thought that sounded like a great (and more productive) way to satisfy my intellectual curiosity and decided to pursue law school instead of a Ph.D.

With a diverse career that spans across engineering and law, and a successful track record in patent litigation, what advice would you give to women lawyers and law students who are interested in pursuing a career in intellectual property law or transitioning from a technical field to law? How do you see mentorship playing a role in their professional development?

It may not be right for everyone, but for those transitioning from one career to another, I recommend keeping an open mind and taking your time before jumping in. This is especially true if you have a family, mortgage, or other obligations that limit your flexibility as to where you attend law school and work after graduation. For example, after deciding I wanted to go to law school, I immediately assumed I would just do what I did for engineering graduate school—namely, keep my full-time engineering job and go to law school part time. But, after speaking to a ton of local lawyers, I decided it would actually be better for my family (and my long-term career goals) to go to law school full time, graduate in three years, and take on (paid) summer work. I also ended up deferring my first year of law school because (on admitted students day) my husband and I found out that our latest round of fertility treatments had finally worked and I was expecting our first child the week before first-quarter finals. Of course, before I decided to defer, I asked the dean of students to put me in touch with other women who had children during law school so I could make an educated decision.

Through every step of my transition to law (and beyond), my decisions have been informed by other lawyers (often women) taking the time to mentor me—even if they didn’t realize it. We often think mentoring has to be a formal, continuous, intense relationship, but simply being willing to have coffee with someone and tell them about your career or life can be an act of mentoring. We, as women, can help each other out by being bold enough to ask for each other’s time and gracious enough to offer the same.

You have experience with a variety of technical fields, from semiconductors and software to aircraft and life sciences. Based on your extensive experience and considering the rapid pace of technological advancement, what are some of the emerging trends in patent law that you believe will significantly impact litigation and intellectual property strategy in the next few years? How do you stay ahead of these trends to ensure successful outcomes for your clients?

One of my favorite parts about being a lawyer is that the law is not stagnant, and we must, therefore, learn new things all the time. This is true regardless of what type of law you practice. There are a couple of ways I try to ensure I’m staying on top of developing trends in my field. First and foremost, I am an active member of the Seattle Intellectual Property American Inn of Court. As part of my membership in this organization, I attend and contribute to monthly meetings where members of the Inn present on an emerging trend or topic in intellectual property law. Outside of the educational program, I also get to connect informally with my colleagues both inside and outside of my firm, who help me gain a wider perspective of the industry. As a first-generation lawyer and Seattle transplant, I find this connectivity to the wider intellectual property legal community invaluable. I also have a particular passion for the various ways standard essential patents can impact patent litigation. To ensure I stay current on legal developments in this specific area, I receive alerts from relevant news sites when this topic is covered. I also contribute to and attend continuing learning education presentations on the topic whenever I can.

We are excited to spotlight Ihaab Syed (she/her), Judicial Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, in our monthly newsletter.

After spending her formative years in a Mississippi small town, Ihaab attended NYU on a Presidential Honors Scholarship, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy. Her first post-graduate job was as a paralegal for legal services clients with mental illness. Then, after working as an organizer on political campaigns, she helped found a new labor organization devoted to supporting electoral workers, serving as the union’s secretary as well as a bargaining agent, union representative, and liaison with legal counsel. These experiences motivated Ihaab to pursue a J.D. with a specialization in Public Interest Law & Policy from UCLA School of Law, which she received in 2019. During her studies, she was recognized for her contributions to the campus and wider community as an inaugural recipient of the U. Serve L.A. Student Award.

After graduating, Ihaab became an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Her fellowship project focused on improving access for voters with disabilities through impact litigation, advocacy, and public education. Ihaab also co-led the ACLU’s 2020 nationwide Election Protection effort. To mobilize insights from this work, she co-authored a peer-reviewed article with colleagues from the ACLU and the National Disability Rights Network, published in the Election Law Journal: Designing Accessible Elections: Recommendations from Disability Voting Rights Advocates.

Currently, Ihaab is a law clerk for a federal district judge in Seattle. Since October 2022, she has served on the Ninth Circuit Workplace Environment Committee’s Law Clerk Subcommittee, helping advance initiatives to improve the experience of law clerks throughout the Circuit. She is a participant in MAMA Seattle’s Ladder Down leadership and business development program and has a budding interest in filmmaking. A documentary Ihaab co-directed, Bhaskar Chitrakar: Painting Kalighat Moderns, recently premiered at the Smithsonian Museum’s Mother Tongue Film Festival.

Questions and Answers

1.  As someone who serves on the Ninth Circuit Workplace Environment Committee’s Law Clerk Subcommittee, what advice would you give to young lawyers aspiring to become judicial clerks?

In this role, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clerks from all over the Ninth Circuit, across appellate, bankruptcy, and district courts. Everyone has had a unique path to getting here, and several of us are first-generation lawyers. Don’t count yourself out just because you don’t fit the imagined profile of a law clerk. Many judges are eager to hire people with litigation experience, a prior career, or other life circumstances that are outside the mold.

Law schools often encourage students to “bulk apply” to clerkships. However, I would recommend putting considerable thought and effort into a few select applications, making sure those applications are tailored to what each judge’s posting specifically requires. Focus on clearly articulating why you want to clerk and demonstrate why you would be a great fit for that specific judge’s chambers. In particular, the writing sample you choose (and how well it is introduced) can show that you are a serious candidate—even if you weren’t at the top of your class or on the law review—by showcasing your thoughtfulness and ability to independently perform the type of legal analysis that law clerks engage in daily.

2.  How can lawyers contribute to creating a more accessible and inclusive legal system?

Accessing legal support can be burdensome for potential clients from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those who also have disabilities. Many Americans do not have lawyers in their network, and when they seek legal counsel they are likely facing some of the most challenging circumstances in their lives such as a family dispute, immigration consequences, criminal penalties, or financial crisis. A few key things you can do to make your services more available to a broad population include: (1) using plain, easy-to-understand language in retainer agreements and other communications to clients; (2) defaulting to using gender-neutral language until you know someone’s preferred pronouns and not assuming relationships (e.g., using the word “partner”); and (3) ensuring that your practice group’s website meets current accessibility standards. These are simple things that together we can work towards normalizing in our relatively exclusive profession.

Another valuable way I’ve found to gain understanding of the needs of my local community has been to volunteer on projects requiring interaction with people whose experiences differ from my own. My formal work with clients with disabilities began only after years of volunteering as a cooking class instructor at a New York City shelter, where I built deep relationships with many disabled residents.

One community need that lawyers can uniquely fill is providing representation for people of low- to moderate-means in civil cases. The Western District has a pro bono program which offers mentorship and co-counseling support to volunteer attorneys.

3. How can lawyers help make the legal profession more accessible and inclusive?

There are many barriers to success in the legal profession for first-generation lawyers, especially those without close family members with advanced degrees or from primarily non-English language backgrounds. Consider your law office’s recruitment process and how you can help create better pipelines for underrepresented applicants to enter and succeed in the profession. If you can devote time and energy into providing extra writing support (e.g., multiple rounds of redline edits and detailed oral feedback), you may be able to hire and provide coaching to an aspiring intern or associate with a less-polished application or lower grades who has the zeal to learn and do good work.

Beyond the hiring process, each of us can commit to regularly providing mentorship to our junior peers by signaling our willingness to provide advice and support and making ourselves available when they reach out. As the beneficiary of this type of mentorship myself, I am keenly aware of how this understated way of distributing the soft skills of our profession that aren’t taught in law school is critical to building a rewarding career in the law. Each of us can be changemakers within our own spheres of influence: in our workplaces and within our social and professional networks. And none of us succeed in this profession on our own.

Many thanks to Valerie Chelobitchenko for this invitation to share a little bit about my journey and to the King County Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers for being a valuable resource for lawyers in our community.

We are excited to spotlight Makiko Coffland, Member at Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness PLLC, in our in our King County Washington Women Lawyers May newsletter.

Makiko represents businesses and individuals in all areas of intellectual property (IP) law, including trademark, copyright, patent, and trade secret matters. She is a passionate advocate for business owners and individuals and assists clients to protect their valuable business assets tied to intellectual property. She helps clients with IP-related transactions and litigations, including trademark clearance and protection, trademark oppositions and cancellations, negotiation and handling disputes in trademarks and copyrights, domain disputes, licensing, due diligence, trade secret litigations, and antitrust litigations.

Before becoming an attorney, Makiko studied marine biology and molecular biology at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field. She also worked as a researcher in the fields of environmental engineering and microbiology and as an invention analyst for patent examination at the Japan Patent Office. Through these experiences she became passionate about intellectual property and chose a path to study intellectual property law in the United States. With English as a second language, Makiko worked hard to overcome the language barrier to achieve her goal of becoming an attorney, graduating from the University of Idaho College of Law with her J.D. degree in 2010.

Makiko's practice is strengthened by her technology background and industry experience. She began her legal career as a patent attorney, representing clients in a variety of fields and industries. Her prior experience in the life sciences has proven useful when working with brand owners in the pharmaceutical industry, where she assists with the selection, clearance, and protection of their brands in this highly regulated industry. With her unique international background, she easily collaborates with clients around the world.

Makiko is an avid volunteer with local communities and legal organizations. She has volunteered at the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinic to assist individuals who need legal support and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association’s International Practice Section and Intellectual Property Section. She has been a board member of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington since 2018, and served as chair of the events committee for two terms, between 2020-2023, to produce events for the Japanese community in the State of Washington. She currently serves as secretary of the International Trademark Law & Practice Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association.

Questions and Answers

1. What challenges did you face in your career as an IP attorney and how did you manage to overcome them?

Intellectual property refers to so many different types of creations, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, names, symbols, and more, and intellectual property laws cover large areas of law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. It is already challenging to practice this complex law associated with a wide array of subject matters, and my background in a different culture and language has added some more challenges for me in this demanding area of law. Perseverance, persistence, and diligence helped me to navigate through these challenging times, and I was also fortunate to have amazing mentors and supervisors who believed in me and helped guide me through my career. When I started my legal career, I had some doubts, to be honest, but through the experience, I came to understand that bringing one’s culture, language, and background to the practice of IP law contributes to the depth of the legal advice I can provide and adds value to those clients who also come from a diverse background. I am so grateful to those mentors and supervisors who recognized my abilities and encouraged me to pursue my career in intellectual property law.

What advice would you give to attorneys who would like to begin an IP law career without technical degrees and background?

I would say that there is a space for anyone interested in IP law. It is true that the majority of IP law issues involve technical backgrounds, and that the majority of IP lawyers are patent attorneys; however, careers in “soft IP” – such as trademarks and copyrights - exist for those without technical degrees and backgrounds. In some cases, those without technical backgrounds have strong business acumen, which is also an important skillset for IP attorneys. Additionally, patent litigation does not require a technical background or degree to practice; it is not a surprise to find many great litigators practicing this field without technical degrees.

Can you provide any thoughts on the new rule: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) amended its rules of practice as it created a new design patent practitioner designation, to represent others before the USPTO as either a “design patent attorney” or “design patent agent.” A new separate design patent practitioner bar, available to an additional set of degrees, will allow admitted design patent practitioners to practice only in design patent proceedings. This amendment took effect on January 2, 2024.

Design patents protect an aesthetic feature of an article, including shapes and configurations. Design patent practitioners are still required to have a bachelor's, master's, or Doctor of Philosophy degree to take the design patent practitioner bar, but this change will definitely create more opportunities for people in industry or product design, architecture, graphic design, or for those with general art backgrounds, to pursue their career in patent law. It is a welcoming change that the US Patent and Trademark Office has made to align with other countries’ IP offices.