THIS WEBSITE INCLUDES GENERAL INFORMATION & THE OPINIONS OF CHRISTOPHER S. MULVANEY. IT IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE A BASIS FOR QUESTIONS RELATED TO YOUR PARTICULAR FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES — BEFORE YOU ACT. THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU WANT LEGAL ADVICE, PLEASE MAKE A ZOOM APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK WITH ME.
CONTACT CHRISTOPHER S. MULVANEY FORM
DISCLAIMER:
The use of email or this form for communication with MULVANEY LAW OFFICE, PLLC does not establish an Attorney-Client Relationship. If you don’t think I have responded, please check your spam folder. Time-sensitive information should not be sent through this Form or through email. Sensitive information can be uploaded to an encrypted Dropbox folder in your client file. Google Review LinkYelp Review Link
Gonzaga University School of Law – Spokane, Washington – Class of 2002 – Cum Laude The Latin phrase “Deo patriae, scientiis, artibus” translates to “For God and country through sciences and arts”. The initials A.M.D.G. on the seal of Gonzaga Law School stand for Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which is Latin for “For the Greater Glory of God” the Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits): a Catholic religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
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Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. – Albert Einstein
An attorney-client relationship is formed by mutual agreement.
Attorney does not have to work on every matter for Client or work for every Client. Client does not have to hire Attorney in writing, and may terminate Attorney’s representation at any time in writing (the right to be paid for work already performed is not terminated, however). The Attorney-Client relationship is a Principal-Agent relationship in which the Client is the Principal and the Attorney is the Agent.
In order for a duties as an Attorney (other than the duty of confidentiality which applies to prospective Clients as well as Clients) to arise, the Principal/Client must request legal advice, and the Agent/Attorney must agree to give legal advice. Signing this Agreement is not enough (all by itself) to create an Attorney-Client relationship. Signing the Agreement creates an Attorney and Prospective Client relationship. It is only when Client requests services and Attorney agrees to perform those services that an Attorney-Client relationship is formed.
Rights & Responsibilities of Client and Attorney.
A good fit between Attorney and Client is imperative. Client must have a working email address, and check it at least daily. Attorney will email attached documents to Client. Once Client has retained the Firm, Client can email Attorney questions directly. Please do not call with questions.
Clients’ Bill of Rights
Client has the right to expect Attorney to follow the Rules of Professional Conduct. In addition to that, Clients of MULVANEY LAW OFFICES, PLLC have the right to expect Attorney to put Clients’ interests first in all things, not just in avoiding conflicts of interest, but in the broadest sense of commitment to Clients well being. Clients should expect more than the minimum required. Clients should expect that Christopher S. Mulvaney will not profit at their expense because profit is expansively defined to include the positive difference in the life of each Client. A positive difference is not the same as a guaranteed outcome. A positive difference includes how a Client feels about how Client was treated and whether Client believes Client made the best choice for Client after consideration of all alternatives.
Clients’ Duties are the Attorney’s Bill of Rights
Attorney has the right to expect Client to be honest, not withhold information or provide false information.
Attorney has the right to expect Client to communicate with Attorney regarding the representation and not communicate with other lawyers, the Bankruptcy Trustee, US Trustee, the media, or post online regarding the matter, or file complaints against adverse parties without telling attorney first.
Attorney has the right to expect Client to read the information on this web site and ask questions if Client doesn’t understand something.
Attorney’s Duties
Attorney’s duties are numerous. Below is an 81-page document containing the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers in Washington State.
Key duties include: Competence, Diligence, Communication, Confidentiality, Conflicts of Interest, Safeguarding Property, Trust Account Records, Declining or Terminating Representation, and Duties to Prospective and Former Clients.
More advisory opinions can be found on the Advisory Opinions database. Another source of ethics information are the ethics articles featured in the Washington state Bar News publication and in NWSidebar, WSBA’s blog.
Recent Amendments to the Lawyer Rules of Professional Conduct
On April 7, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court adopted an amendment to Cmt 2 to RPC 1.11, effective May 4, 2021. A reference to the Court’s decision in State v. Nickels (2020) was added to the comment.
On Jan. 8, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court adopted amendments to RPC 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and 5.5 regarding lawyer advertising, effective Jan. 26, 2021. See Washington Supreme Court Order 25700-A-1333
To Always Be a Human Being First, and My Role Second. To First, Do No Harm, then to provide the best legal outcome, smoothest process, best value, and to make a positive difference in the life of every client.
Christopher S. Mulvaney’s Mantra:
May I be filled with loving kindness for all life. May I be safe from dangers within and without. May I be healthy in body, mind, socially, and spiritually. May I be at ease and happy, doing good in the world.
May You be filled with loving kindness for all life. May You be safe from dangers within and without. May You be healthy in body, mind, socially, and spiritually. May You be at ease and happy, doing good in the world.
I am an experienced solo estate planning, debtor bankruptcy, and real estate attorney. At my law firm in Bellevue, Washington between Eastgate and Factoria, I do things a little differently. I am passionate about helping people take control of their lives.
One of my primary practice areas is urgent (bankruptcy), and the other is important, but not urgent (estate planning). Not letting the urgent crowd out the important is key. I have made a choice to include the positive difference I make in the life of each client in how I calculate profit. This means I have higher job satisfaction, and happy clients who confidently give referrals.
My goal is that my work is transformative for people during a challenging time in their lives. At Mulvaney Law Offices, PLLC (MLO), you will not find a gatekeeper. There are no forgotten cases hiding on an associate’s cluttered desk. It’s just me, working with each one of my clients one-on-one to resolve their legal concerns as favorably as possible.
As your lawyer, I will personally handle every aspect of your case. My office is not a factory churning out thousands of filings per year, where each case matters little. You, and your case, matter to me. You can see what clients have said about me, and leave your own reviews at these links.
Mulvaney Law Offices, PLLC is located in Bellevue, Washington, representing estate planning & chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy, clients in all 39 Washington Counties.
Washington State residents can meet with me in Zoom/DocuSign from anywhere in the world, and I can notarize their electronic signatures because I am a remote online notary. Just email me an image of your photo ID.
