PRACTICE AREAS
Juvenile Law
Domestic Violence

Introduction

Liza Burke’s clients benefit from her sixteen years of experience and knowledge garnered from hundreds of prior clients and cases. Ms. Burke has represented individuals from all walks of life and all types of social, cultural and financial backgrounds. She has been the Seattle defense attorney or advocate for professionals such as business executives, doctors, sports figures and lawyers. She has also been the attorney for grandparents, students and young children.

Ms. Burke has made hundreds of court appearances in superior, municipal and juvenile courts throughout Western Washington and was trained in the high volume, urban courts of Seattle. She has tried cases with very poor prospects of success and obtained “not guilty” verdicts. She has successfully negotiated complete dismissals of serious cases and other resolutions which protect her clients’ liberty and dignity. And she has done all things in between those two outcomes.

Ms. Burke has represented a range of clients from many different backgrounds. Her clients have included business executives, sports figures, attorneys, doctors and other community leaders. But she also represents every day people including, parents, grandparents, young children and students.

Ms. Burke is proud that many of her client referrals come from her former opponents, prosecutors, case workers and opposing counsel. She is equally proud that many of her client referrals come from her many satisfied prior clients.

Ms. Burke brings the wisdom and knowledge obtained from sixteen years of interaction with hundreds of opposing counsel, all levels of prosecutors, and from her collaborative work with many top notch attorneys in Washington State in settings ranging from serious high profile felonies to more modest legal proceedings.

Because of her years of in depth and varied experience, Ms. Burke’s clients should fully expect and receive excellent communication, education, strategy, advocacy and outcome. Additionally, her clients know to expect candor and fairness regarding the fees and costs for the representation.

Professional Biography

Liza Burke is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law. Admitted to practice in Washington in 1993, the majority of her legal career has focused on defending people accused of wrongdoing in civil, educational and criminal settings. For several years, Ms. Burke has been recognized as both a “Rising Star” and as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law and Politics Magazine in addition to being elected by her peers to serve as a leader on the prestigious governing body of the Washington State Bar Association, the WSBA Board of Governors, from 2005 to 2008.

Ms. Burke began her career as a staff attorney at Society of Counsel where she successfully represented hundreds of adults in juveniles in the misdemeanor, juvenile and felony divisions. Ms. Burke joined the AV rated law firm of Cohen & Iaria in 2001. There she handled almost all of the firm’s juvenile and domestic violence cases in addition to other legal matters. Ms. Burke remained with Cohen & Iaria as a partner until the firm closed in 2009.

Ms. Burke regularly appears in superior, juvenile and district courts throughout Western Washington. She has successfully represented hundreds of individuals charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. She has particularly extensive experience in defending youthful offenders both in juvenile and adult courts. Her juvenile court work also includes child welfare/dependency proceedings where Ms. Burke has represented mothers, fathers, third parties and children.

Ms. Burke also has extensive experience in domestic violence matters including protection order proceedings, victim defendant representation, defendant representation and victim representation.

Ms. Burke is a respected leader in the legal community. As a member of the Washington State Bar Association’s Board of Governors, she served as the board liaison to the Committee on Public Defense, Judicial Recommendation Committee, the Mandatory CLE Board and the WSBA Criminal Law Section and Juvenile Law Section. Ms. Burke was active in the pioneering efforts that established the statewide Juvenile Law Section for Washington attorneys and she presented the motion for establishment of section to the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors in June 2006.

Ms. Burke was also appointed to serve on the State Bar Association’s Trust Account and Retainers Task Force in 2005. The focus of the task force was a revision to the Rules of Professional Conduct regarding lawyer fees. The work of the task force was ultimately adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court.

Ms. Burke is currently the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers liaison to the WSBA Board of Governors. She also served on the Board of Directors for Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons from 2006 to 2008.

Ms. Burke speaks at seminars and to interested groups regarding juvenile offense issues and criminal law practice. For several years she was a guest lecturer along with the head of the King County Prosecutor’s Office Juvenile Unit at both the UW Law School and Seattle University where she jointly presented to students on the proper role of the lawyer in juvenile court. She has served as a contributing author to the King County Bar Association’s Lawyer’s Practice Manual and is a former instructor at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In 2007, she was the keynote speaker at the King County swearing in ceremony for new lawyers of the Washington State Bar Association

Ms. Burke is admitted to practice in Washington and the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. She is a member of the King County Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association Criminal Law Section, the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Washington Defender Association, MAMAS, Filipino Lawyers of Washington and Qlaw.

Law Firm vs. Independent Practitioner:

Liza Burke is currently an independent practitioner. Her current practice and does not cater to those who prefer a lawyer with glossy marketing brochures, high end furniture and artwork and expensive views. Image maintenance is not a factor of her practice. If a person is contacting Ms. Burke, it is because they have a real legal problem that needs serious and immediate attention. Legal problems require a trusted, competent and resourceful lawyer

Unlike a law firm, Ms. Burke’s independent practice does not require multiple layers of full time legal assistants or force a “team approach” with other expensive attorneys. With Ms. Burke, every time your file is picked up or you wish to talk about your case, you receive her undivided attention, her experience and her focus on your matter.

When appropriate for the case and the client, Ms. Burke will pull together a team of individuals with skills tailored to the client’s particular case needs. Ms. Burke can and does readily contract and associate with other counsel, experts, investigators and skilled assistants. These individuals come from a dynamic list of other independent professionals and are selected according to suitability for the particular case or client need. In other words, together with her client, Ms. Burke can assemble the most effective “team” for each case when it would help achieve maximum results.

Ms. Burke’s practice is responsive, current and personalized based on a solid foundation of legal work in a variety of settings.

LBL Practice

Aside from my legal knowledge and skill, it is important for my potential clients to know what it is like to work with me. My eye and effort is always focused on the best result whether that be dismissal of a charge, return of children to their parents, victory in a domestic violence protection order proceeding or achieving whatever my client's stated objective may be.

I also understand the process of going through a legal proceeding is difficult for people. I understand my clients' anxiety over not knowing what the future will hold and what will happen to their lives and so I strive to put the problem, possibilities and timeline into a realistic perspective. I prioritize clear and regular communication with my clients. This is because I believe an informed client is an empowered client who is able to make good decisions and collaborate well with me for the best results. I also believe in treating my clients with understanding and respect.

I am proud of that I have a very high client satisfaction rate. For sampling of client testimonials please review my AVVO profile.

I also deal with the issue of fees openly. I realize that legal fees themselves can be a source of stress for client. My clients can expect that I will address projected fees with them directly. I strive to avoid billing surprises. My fees are straightforward and understandable. I am always honored when a client chooses me to represent them.

I am always honored when a client chooses me to represent them.