Legal Team

David went back to school, graduating with his Bachelor’s in the Arts, with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude, from Syracuse University in 1995. He received his law degree through Seattle University, with honors of Cum Laude, in 1998; he passed his Washington State Bar exam and was admitted into practice in June of 1999.

Since 1999 David has represented people in Kitsap, Jefferson, Pierce, King, Mason, Clallum, and Thurston Counties in Municipal, District, and Superior Court and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. In 2002 and 2012, he received a certificate of commendation from Kitsap Legal Services for his exceptional and dedicated service provided in support of the Access to Justice for low income residents of Kitsap County. In 2004 he was a co-recipient of the pro bono attorney of the year award presented by the Federal Bar Association. For years David worked with the esteemed firm of Bishop, Cunningham and Andrews, in Bremerton, but in early 2014 he branched out and started his own Law Office. Previously based in downtown Port Orchard, David is now working out of the main Belfair office, and by appointment in Shelton.

Patti grew up in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from The Evergreen State College. Patti graduated Cum Laude from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1992 and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for Trial Advocacy. She passed the Washington State Bar exam as was admitted into practice in 1993. She worked for a fortune 500 corporation from 1973 until 2005 when she retired from corporate employment; her last position as Director, Employment and Counsel. She launched her family law practice in 2006 and has volunteered or worked for small local law firms in the family law practice area since that time. She is currently a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Mason County Bar Association and Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She is the vice-president of the Mason County Bar Association. She is a past President of the Board of Directors for Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services in Mason County and volunteers for the Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services’ Shelton Legal Clinic.

Law graduate Class of 2017 at Seattle University, School of Law. Before law school, served in the U.S. Navy and earned a B.S. in Environmental Science at Brigham Young University. Interned at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office in the Ecology Division in the summer of 2015, and the Northwest Justice Project in the summer of 2016. Has worked for david gates as a legal intern for 2 years and has over 150 pro bono hours since starting law school.

Barbara has been employed with David Gates Law Firm since March of 2015. She graduated from Tacoma Community College with a Paralegal Associate of Applied Science Degree.

She has been in the legal profession since 2008.

Barbara has experience working with law firms. She was also employed at the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings for two years before working for David Gates Law. She assisted Administrative Law Judges with hearings involving Unemployment and Child Support.

She successfully completed the Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) Program at the University of Washington School of Law in June of 2015. She was the 5th LLLT to become licensed in the State of Washington on the 13th of November 2015.

Washington is the first state to license nonlawyers to provide limited legal advice.

What is the difference between a Legal Technician and an attorney?

Legal Technicians are limited in performing the role of an attorney in three primary ways:

(1) They cannot represent clients in court,

(2) They cannot negotiate on behalf of a client, and

(3) They can only prepare legal documents that have been approved by a Washington lawyer or approved by the LLLT Board. LLLTs advise the client of the significance of the selected documents to the client’s case.

LLLTs are specifically trained and tested to practice in the

area of law in which they are licensed.

Because Washington is the first state to authorize Legal Technicians, their practice is limited to this state; however other states are considering similar limited license legal technician programs.

Barbara volunteers with the Pro Se docket for Mason County Superior Court. Helping pro se parties fill out and helping the parties make sure they have all the pleadings needed for their matter. She does not give legal advice to the pro se parties in this volunteer position.

She volunteers for the Thurston County Legal Clinic for the Mason County matters. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Mason County Bar

Practice Areas in Domestic Relations LLLT’s can assist with are:

DISSOLUTION • LEGAL SEPARATION • CHILD SUPPORT

CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATIONS

MINOR PARENTING PLAN MODIFICATIONS

MAJOR PARENTING PLAN MODIFICATION IF THE PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT

PARENTING AND SUPPORT ISSUES • PATERNITY • AGREED RELOCATIONS

COMMITTED INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS – THAT PERTAIN TO PARENTING AND SUPPORT ISSUES