Kim L. Schnuelle

An adventure lover at heart, Kim Schnuelle spends her free time traveling to far-flung destinations, hiking the local Cascades, skiing the slopes of Mission Ridge, or ensconced in her Brewster, WA cabin, writing legal articles. Avocations aside, this veteran attorney brings that same level of intellectual curiosity and boundless energy to her work. Since 2011, she has employed her considerable negotiation and litigation skills in support of scores of clients at McKinley Irvin. Prior to joining the Northwest’s largest family law firm, she served for 17 years as a lawyer with the Family Support Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney, resolving thousands of cases along the way.

"To be successful in family law, you need to possess a solid grasp of legal issues and statutes, a healthy psychological makeup, and a good heart,” says the yoga enthusiast and animal lover. “Book smarts only get you so far. It’s important to have compassion and empathy for each client so you can provide the kind of exceptional legal representation your clients need and deserve."

For Kim, that means staying abreast of current case law, treating clients (as well as members of the bar and bench) with fairness, kindness, and respect, responding in a timely fashion to client calls and emails, and appreciating the unique nature of each legal case.

"Clients facing family law litigation are living through one of the most stressful periods of their lives. As an attorney and advocate, it is my role to reduce that stress by listening actively to their desired goals, then implementing those goals through a strong, wellprepared, and effective case strategy."

Beyond those considerations, says Kim, it’s incumbent on good lawyers to continue to improve their work, and to refine and sharpen their craft. She adds that working at McKinley Irvin—“a place full of smart, yet really caring folks”—contributes mightily to this effort.