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THE LEGAL BRIEF
VOLUME 41, ISSUE 5
“ In Re: Cindy Gaddis ”
1. Name and year admitted to Bar: Cindy Gaddis, Admitted in Washington in October 2015 by waiving in from Oregon, admitted in 2011.
2. Areas you practice in: Currently worker ’ s compensation, wage & hour law, civil rights. Previously employment discrimination (plaintiff and defense) and tort claim defense for Washington state agencies.
3. I became a lawyer because . . . I was really tired of bartending. It was so refreshing to get back into an environment where I had to think deeply and analyze situations, and people cared about my opinions and conclusions.
4. The hardest part of being a lawyer is . . . managing ever - changing deadlines.
5. I would give this advice to a first - year law student: pick classes that you think are interesting, not just classes for areas of law that will be on the bar examination. If at all possible, do some clinical work through your law school.
6. Traits I admire in other attorneys: 1) Kindness. 2) Professionalism. 3) Approachability. 4) Willingness to work toward compromise rather than winner - takes - all mentality. 5) Kindness.
7. If I were not practicing law, I would be . . . managing a cat café!
8. What is the first thing you will do when you retire? Open up a cat café! Actually, I would probably take a long trip out of the country before opening the cat café. I would visit some cat cafes in other countries as research. I have already visited cat cafes in Edinburgh, Bruges, and Madrid. 9. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future? Why? I love history, but I would not go to the past in many countries, including this country, because women have not enjoyed equal rights, freedom and treatment. As a matter of fact, I think we ’ re still working on that.
10. What words of wisdom would you pass on to your childhood self? It ’ s okay to ask for what you want.
11. What words of wisdom would you give to a young lawyer new to the profession? Make an effort to keep up with the extracurricular - type activities, hobbies, and friendships that make you who you are. Lawyering can be a rewarding profession that does not need to become your only identity.
Brief synopsis of Cindy Gaddis, her personal life, her work life, and any special awards or activities.
I grew up in Seattle, Washington, moved out of state after graduating from the University of Washington, and did not return to live in Washington for almost 20 years. I lived in SE Alaska giving historical tours about the gold rush of 1898, spent time in Austin, Texas, and owned a home on Portland, Oregon where I became a fan of the Portland Timbers. I play soccer in Olympia for a co - ed soccer team called Oly 5, and host an informal charitable fundraiser between winter and spring seasons called the Oly 5k.
I live in the Bigelow Highlands neighborhood of Olympia with my partner Jason Walker (also an attorney) and our tabby cat, and serve as a neighborhood association board member and Block Watch Captain.
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