Bridget Bourgette

We had a legal matter with a local school and from previous reviews Bridget seemed to be the person to go to. We were not disappointed and from the first conversation on she had realistic answers for us about what would or would not work for our case, what we could reasonably ask for and how to best ...go about it. She also kept expectations realistic and prepared us for the possible ways this could play out, from best case scenario to a more lengthy process. While a little tucked away and up a flight of stairs through the back her office was otherwise easy to find. Her staff, specifically Linda, are fantastic. If there if there is anything that could have been better than it is maybe the time it took to get the initial letter out, but I strongly believe this is due to her being thought after and busy. For very good reasons. We are very happy with Bridget's representation for us.

Bridget was hired by a Seattle commissioner August of 2013 to make a recommendation on what school system would best fit 2 of my children's educational needs. The public school system on Mercer Island or the Catholic private school they have attended for 7 and 5 years. It is now April 2014 and she JU...ST made her recommendation. I paid her $3,000, and my own lawyer almost $20,000 for this decision. Bridget spoke with me and the kid's dad in Nov. 2013 once during this whole "investigation". She just finally interviewed the teachers March 2013, and hadn't even looked at the report cards or other important information until March 2013. It's so frustrating as a parent who has one child with dyslexia and an IEP with the public schools, and another child with ADD and a possible auditory processing deficit to sit for months-almost an entire school year, and get the results basing her decision to keep them at their Catholic school (which is wonderful but just can't meet my kid's special needs) on student/teacher ratios. Both schools are on Mercer Island for goodness sakes and are the best around. The most insulting part of this whole mess, was that not only do my kids have to continue to stay at the Catholic school which can not meet their needs, but they have to attend 5 days of private tutoring! After school! Why? Well Bridget felt the need to not only mock me but also to suggest the desire to send my kids to the public school so their academic special needs could be met was driven by wanting more CHILD SUPPORT MONEY! OMG this is so nuts I don't even want to justify a reason for her "recommendation". I now am going to mediation and possibly to court because these are my KIDS and she's got to make this crazy decision which will affect my precious children for possibly the rest of their lives. I want to cry and scream and ask her what if she traded me places? If I was the decision maker and she was the mother trying to make life as successful and meaningful for HER children. What if I took almost an entire school year and then accused her of being financialy motivated when I made a crazy decision like she has? I feel powerless....these are my children for heaven's sake. They are my life. Shame on you Bridget.