Jeannie O'Brien, Attorney

I was born and raised in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood, where I live today within a mile of my family home. I attended St. Edward Catholic School in Rainier Valley, and graduated high school from Holy Names Academy.

I attended the University of Puget Sound, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and minors in Economics and Computer Science. After completing an internship with the Weyerhaeuser Company and working as a legal assistant for a construction litigation firm in Seattle, I attended law school at Santa Clara University, attaining my Juris Doctorate in 1988.

I passed the California Bar Exam in 1988, and continue as an inactive member in California, meaning I could practice in that state by paying a fee to become active rather than taking the exam again. I moved back to Seattle before getting these bar results, to help with one of my dad's last re-election campaigns and decided to stay, taking and passing the Washington State Bar Exam in 1989.

For the first twelve years of my practice, I worked as a public defender with the Associated Counsel for the Accused (ACA) and represented indigent defendants in criminal cases throughout King County in Superior Court, Juvenile Court, District Courts and Seattle Municipal Court. My goal was to learn and understand the judicial system, so when I began private practice I would have a working knowledge of the courts and those that work there. I enjoyed all aspects of the work, only becoming disillusioned when trying to be a part time attorney and a part time mother, and realized that I'd be a better full time mother until Cleo started Kindergarten.

During my "retirement" from ACA, I studied all aspects of estate planning and administration, with advice and assistance from Ken's dad, Kenneth Selander Sr., who was winding down his estate planning and probate practice. When Cleo started at St. Joseph School in 2003, I hung my shingle underneath Ken's and got back to work, choosing areas of law that kept me off of the busy and unpredictable jury trial calendar.

Raising our daughter Cleo remains an important priority to me, so you may not find me in the office when there is a field trip or an away game. We are fortunate to have competent staff who can discern when it's important to track me down and when something can wait until my return. Ken and I met while boating on Lake Washington, and our lives continue to revolve around the lake. Except for my years in college and law school, I have never lived more than a block or two away Lake Washington. I enjoy open water swimming, waterskiing, jet skiing, boating, floating, and Seafair. When I am not in or on the lake, I am enjoying travel, the mountains, playing tennis, bike riding, cooking and entertaining for friends and family, and coordinating games for one of Cleo's many sports teams. I admire integrity, honesty, sincerity and empathy in others. I strive to maintain these values in my professional life and in my personal life everyday. For a list of memberships, associations, and volunteer organizations I am involved with, please visit our Affiliations page by clicking here.

Selander O’Brien family at Seafair