C. Fellows Law & Education is a Family Law and Education Advocacy firm dedicated to providing targeted and accessible family law and education advocacy services to individuals and families in Western Washington.
Experienced Family Law Attorney. As a family law attorney, I have had experience representing clients in high-conflict and complex divorces, including parenting cases involving domestic violence and/or substance abuse (or allegations thereof). As an experienced family law attorney, I have had proven success in the courtroom and in mediation, as well as in negotiating equitable settlements outside of either the courtroom or mediation. As a teacher and an attorney, I use my experience in the classroom and outside of law to better understand and anticipate the practical implications of a parenting plan or child support order and to provide clients with legal documents in their divorce that are going to make sense when they put them into action once their divorce is final.
While working for another premier family law firm in Seattle, I recognized a need for a different type of family law firm – one that could offer clients more options so they don’t always have to spend thousands when they don’t necessarily need full representation, or that could provide limited representation options for clients who can’t afford a multi-thousand-dollar advance fee. C. Fellows Law & Education provides clients with family law services that are tailored to your needs.
Experienced Teacher and Education Professional. Most education law attorneys and special education advocates have no experience working in a school, much less teaching in a classroom. I use my legal expertise and my background in education to help families navigate the education system and advocate for their child’s academic success. After I graduated from law school and passed the bar exam, I earned my Masters of Elementary Education and teaching license so that I could pursue my passion for education as well as for law. My experience as a teacher helps me ask the right questions and make suggestions when discussing a student’s academic progress. During my teaching experience, I have been involved in my school’s/district’s Racial and Educational Justice and Inclusionary Practices teams. I know what it’s like to advocate for more culturally competent teaching and greater inclusion of students with disabilities from within the system. As both a teacher and an attorney, I am in a unique position to bridge the gap between the “legalese” written in an IEP or 504 Plan and what teaching practices and accommodations should look like in the classroom in order to help a student make meaningful progress.
My goal as an education attorney/advocate is not to sue your child’s school/school district, although I will use my experience as a litigation attorney if and as needed. My goal is to advocate for your child’s meaningful progress in the classroom. Making sure that this stays our paramount goal, keeps us focused on what’s important and makes it more likely that we will succeed. I help you advocate for your child so that they receive what they need in order to be successful in their school. My approach is a gradual release of responsibility, so that you don’t always have to rely on me. I help you understand the process and give you the tools and buzz-words you need so that you can advocate for your child on your own and only call me when you need me.
Outside of working in law and education, I love being outside and being active. I trail run, do Crossfit, ski, rock climb, and mountaineer, and I love to hike and backpack regularly with my ridiculously handsome, slightly spoiled, 4-year-old, English cream golden retriever. I am also an avid reader, and love art and writing.
*Hamline University School of Law is now Mitchell Hamline School of Law in Saint Paul, MN.