Community Service

The Olympic Law Group

"If being a professional means being part of a community in a way that goes beyond ordinary citizenship," says Dennis J. McGlothin, "than I think you have to consider the 'neighbors' on more than an abstract level - try to do more than just read about them in the paper".

As Founding Attorney and managing partner of the Olympic Law Group in downtown Seattle (1221 E. Pike St.), he considers it both a responsibility and a pleasure to put this attitude into action. "It's a matter of getting out of your own professional bubble and into the community," he adds, "Leaning over the fence and making real relationships, if you will. Getting engaged."

And 'getting engaged' is exactly what Dennis has been doing in the Seattle-Western Washington community since arriving here in 1997. Since then, he has faithfully served on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Seattle YMCA, and was instrumental in fundraising efforts that raised over $14 million dollars to renovate and preserve the historical branch building at 4th & Marion. Dennis has also worked extensively with Seattle's underprivileged and needy populations, including the Aloha House (transitional housing for runaway girls, 13 -17 years old), Columbia Court (housing for single parents), as well as at various school educational sites in the city's Central District. Currently, Mr. McGlothin volunteers his services as an experienced attorney to act as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for proceedings in King County Superior Court - advising the Court on 'the best interest of the child' in family law cases. He and his firm welcome referrals from the North Seattle Legal Clinic, as well, and provide Pro Bono legal services to abused woman that cannot afford such help. Dennis also judges Moot Court competitions at the University of Washington.

"One of the benefits of being a smaller, close-knit firm like Olympic Law," says Mr. McGlothlin, "is that we are in a better position to personalize our relationships with not just our colleagues and clients, but with the community at large as well. I think every one of us here feels that this makes the firm a better place to practice our profession while helping each one of us be happier, more satisfied individuals."

The lawyers of the Olympic Law Group profess no political affiliation or formal ideology. Rather, we selectively commit our skills to the advocacy of public issues that we perceive as valuable to the community and its citizenry.

Dennis McGlothin is a volunteer court-appointed special advocate representing children in low-income contested parenting actions. He is also a former chairman of the board of the downtown Seattle Y.M.C.A.

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