Back
Attorney
James W. Spencer
Notice
Prior to making any submission to Lasher, please note that if you are not a current client of Lasher, do not include any information in your email that you or anyone else considers confidential or secret. Lasher has no duty or obligation to keep confidential or secret any of the information submitted. Neither the submittal nor receipt of your email is considered a request for legal advice or the securing/engagement of a lawyer. An attorney-client relationship with Lasher or any lawyer at Lasher is not established until and unless Lasher agrees to any such relationship as confirmed by a separate writing.
Attorney bio
James Spencer brings over 20 years of experience to his practice focused on trust and estate litigation, community property issues, and vulnerable adult protection.
Committed to nonprofit service, he most recently served as secretary of the board of directors of the nonprofit Three Dollar Bill Cinema and chaired the board of directors of Washington Association of Future Business Leaders of America. James formerly served on the board of directors of the QLaw Foundation and the Tacoma Rainbow Center, and on the Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Committee.
For twelve years, James taught courses in Community Property and Trusts and Estates as adjunct faculty at Seattle University School of Law, and he has also taught property courses in the Paralegal Studies program at Edmonds College.
When not devoting time to his clients, students, and community organizations, you’ll find James and his husband exploring their passions for hiking and backpacking with their mutt Brandy, collecting vintage vinyl records, and travel.
Education
Seattle University School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2005
Th Evergreen State College
B.A., 1995
Recognition & Activities
- Member, Washington State Bar Association
- Member, King County Bar Association
- Admitted, Federal Bar of the Western District of Washington
- Member, QLaw
- Member, Washington State Bar Association
- Member, King County Bar Association
- Admitted, Federal Bar of the Western District of Washington
- Member, QLaw
Publications & Presentations
- Community Property Issues, KCBA Estate Planning for the 99% CLE 2024, 2025
- Creditor Protections of Retirement and Survivor Benefits / The Effect of QDROs and Divorce on Retirement Assets
NBI IRAs, Pensions and Survivor Benefits in Estate Planning CLE 2020 - Ethics / Probate Disputes and Litigation, NBI The Probate Process from Start to Finish CLE 2020
- Other Tax Planning Considerations / Ethics in Estate Planning Practice, NBI IRAs and Retirement Assets in Estate Planning CLE 2020
- Grantor Trusts / Special Needs Trusts, NBI Trusts 101 CLE 2018
- The Dialog Gap: Helping Clients Understand the Creative Process that is Estate Planning, Seattle University School of Law Just Enough to be Dangerous CLE 2016
- Planning for Blended Families Issues, KCBA Personal Estate Planning for the 99% CLE 2015
- Community Property Concerns in Guardianships, KCBA Advanced Guardianship Issues CLE 2015
- Get Your Sh*t Together: Presentation with Chanel Reynolds, Solid Ground Public Presentation 2014
- Legal Considerations for Gay & Lesbian Servicemembers, LAMP Admission to Practice Rule 8(g) Training Program/CLE 2012, 2013, 2014
- Almost Equal: Protecting Same-Sex Families in Today’s Legal Patchwork, BECU Trust Company Public Presentation 2011
- Basic Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples, Revisions to Legal Voice Publication 2011
- The Ethics of the Half-Hour Consultation: A Discussion of the Rules of Professional Conduct In the Context of Community Legal Clinics, GLBT Law from A to Z: Issue Spotting for Pro Se Legal Clinic Clients CLE 2010
- Estate Planning for Domestic Partners Seminar, BECU Trust Company Public Presentation 2010
- The Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Implications of Washington’s Domestic Partnership Law, Seattle University Domestic Partnership Law CLE 2009
- The Ins and Outs of Starting Up (and Growing) Your Own (LGBT) Law Firm, National LGBT Bar Association Annual Career Fair & Conference 2009
- Community Property Issues, KCBA Estate Planning for the 99% CLE 2024, 2025
- Creditor Protections of Retirement and Survivor Benefits / The Effect of QDROs and Divorce on Retirement Assets
NBI IRAs, Pensions and Survivor Benefits in Estate Planning CLE 2020 - Ethics / Probate Disputes and Litigation, NBI The Probate Process from Start to Finish CLE 2020
- Other Tax Planning Considerations / Ethics in Estate Planning Practice, NBI IRAs and Retirement Assets in Estate Planning CLE 2020
- Grantor Trusts / Special Needs Trusts, NBI Trusts 101 CLE 2018
- The Dialog Gap: Helping Clients Understand the Creative Process that is Estate Planning, Seattle University School of Law Just Enough to be Dangerous CLE 2016
- Planning for Blended Families Issues, KCBA Personal Estate Planning for the 99% CLE 2015
- Community Property Concerns in Guardianships, KCBA Advanced Guardianship Issues CLE 2015
- Get Your Sh*t Together: Presentation with Chanel Reynolds, Solid Ground Public Presentation 2014
- Legal Considerations for Gay & Lesbian Servicemembers, LAMP Admission to Practice Rule 8(g) Training Program/CLE 2012, 2013, 2014
- Almost Equal: Protecting Same-Sex Families in Today’s Legal Patchwork, BECU Trust Company Public Presentation 2011
- Basic Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples, Revisions to Legal Voice Publication 2011
- The Ethics of the Half-Hour Consultation: A Discussion of the Rules of Professional Conduct In the Context of Community Legal Clinics, GLBT Law from A to Z: Issue Spotting for Pro Se Legal Clinic Clients CLE 2010
- Estate Planning for Domestic Partners Seminar, BECU Trust Company Public Presentation 2010
- The Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Implications of Washington’s Domestic Partnership Law, Seattle University Domestic Partnership Law CLE 2009
- The Ins and Outs of Starting Up (and Growing) Your Own (LGBT) Law Firm, National LGBT Bar Association Annual Career Fair & Conference 2009