ABOUT BARBARA

Barbara J. Byram’s practice focuses on elder law, estate planning, benefit advocacy, guardianship, probate and drafting and administration of special needs trusts.

Barbara graduated from Seattle University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, Eastern Washington University, Bachelor/Education, Masters/Education, with honors.  A member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Seattle King County Bar Association, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Barbara served on the Guardianship Taskforce for the Washington State Bar Association, Elder Law section, acted as legislative liaison for the Elder Law and Guardianship section of the King County Bar Association and legislative liaison for the Elder Law section of the Washington State Bar Association. She is a past chair of the Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association, and served on the Board of Directors for the Washington Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

Barbara presents at local seminars and continuing legal educations programs on issues related to Elder Law, Benefits Advocacy, Guardianship, and Estate Planning.

EDUCATION

• Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, WA, Juris Doctorate
• Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, Master in Education

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Washington State Bar Association, Active Member
• Associate Attorney, William L.E. Dussault, P.S. (2001-2017)
• Special Projects Attorney, Preston, Gates and Ellis, LLP (2000-2001)
• Associate Attorney, Johnson Law Firm (1999-2000)
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• King County Bar Association
• King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Volunteer: Spokane Junior Symphony, Safety Harbor Library Advisory Committee, Safety Harbor Environmental Advisory Committee, Federal Way Symphony Board-Chairperson of Conductor’s Club
• Volunteer: Housing Justice Project at Kent Regional Justice Center
• King County Guardianship/Probate Delinquency Calendar
• King County Bar Association:         CLE Co-Chair “Hot Topics In Elder Law”
• Washington State Bar Association:
  • 2004 Legislative Chair
  • 2005 Legislative Chair
  • 2006 Legislative Chair
  • 2004 Elder Law Section Legislative Co-chair
  • 2005 Elder Law Section Chair-Elect
  • 2006 Elder Law Section Chair
  • 2007 Elder Law Guardianship Task Force
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys: 2005-2007 Board of Directors

PRESENTATIONS

• Elder care in Washington: Legal and Financial Issues, June 2003.
• Ethical Issues for Elder Law Attorneys, KCBA CLE, March 2004.
• Pet Trusts, WSBA CLE, January 2005.
• Advanced Guardianship Issues: 2005.
• Role of GAL in Contested Cases, KCBA CLE, April 2005.
• WSBA Elder Law Annual Meeting : 2005 – Current Legislation
• Guardian ad Litem Training: 2005, 2006
• Legislative Update, KCBA CLE, May 2005, 2006.
• KCBA Elder Law Section: 2005 – Update on CR 31 and 2006 – Legislative Update.
• Guardianship and Your Disabled Child, Seattle University Seminar, April 2006, November 2008, and Spring 2010.
• Trust Act, AWSA, May 2012.
• Medicaid, King County Bar Association, CLE, May 2012.
• KCBA Annual Fall Elder Law Conference, September 14, 2012.
• KCBA Advance Guardianship Issue CLE, April 1, 2015.
• WAELA’s UnProgram, May 1, 2015.