I view the law like I view teaching – as a lens to observe and understand the world.
From a young age, I had a strong interest in justice, in right and wrong, and in the natural order of things. This interest led me to follow my dual career paths – the law and education.
Following an idyllic childhood in Louisiana, I graduated from Princeton University and Yale Law School, separated by a stint in the army. After practicing with a large law firm in Seattle, I took a job at Western Washington University where I taught undergraduates to think about the relationship between law and society for 33 years. During that time I began to practice law part time at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, working on major cases. Now retired from teaching, I continue a part time law practice, helping other attorneys at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner develop litigation strategy, write briefs, and argue motions and appeals.
I divide my personal time among the things I love the most
1) Family, with special attention to my two grandchildren;
2) Woodworking, mainly bird carving but also an 18 foot totem pole in the new Whatcom Museum;
3) Conservation, primarily as a founding board member of Whatcom Land Trust I have helped negotiate transactions conserving well over 10,000 acres of land;
4) Hiking, kayaking and exploring the world including Borneo, Zambia, the Queen Charlotte Islands, Chile, Trinidad-Tobago, Laos, Peru, Madagascar, Nepal, Central America, China, Venezuela, Arctic Alaska, Tibet, Morocco, Argentina, Cambodia, and Europe.
Education
- Princeton University ( B.A., summa cum laude, 1963)
- Yale University (J.D., 1968). Phi Beta Kappa
Admitted to Practice
- Washington State Supreme Court, 1969
- U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington, 1977
Professional Associations
- Washington State Bar Association
- Professor Emeritus, Western Washington University
- Board Member, Whatcom Land Trust
Reach out to Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner
Reach out to Paula, Dave, Matt, and Dean if you are struggling with the aftermath of an accident and need some support and advice. They know what you are dealing with now, and they know what you will need to deal with in the future. You will know what to expect, you will know what your rights and options are, and you will not have to deal with insurance companies alone.
