Sandra Elaine Johnston

Sandra Elaine Johnston

5.0
Rating: 9.7

Licensed for 28 years

Family Lawyer at Tacoma, WA
Practice Areas: Family, Criminal Defense, Military Law ... +2 more

705 S. 9th Street., Suite. 104, Tacoma, WA

About Sandra

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Family 50%

Dissolution (Divorce), Child Custody, Dependency, Domestic Violence, Child Support, Spousal Maintenance (Alimony), Military & Civilian Retirement Division, Asset Distribution

29 years

50%
Criminal Defense 20%

Felony Criminal Defense: Assault, Kidnapping, Drugs, DUI, etc.

30 years

20%
Military Law 19%

Family and criminal law support to military service members. I am an Army Veteran, having served honorably from 1978 to 1982 & ETS'd as a SGT with the Berlin Brigade. I also served as a civilian GS-11 with Naval Intelligence, circa 1987-1990.

29 years

19%
Personal Injury 10%

Auto Accidents, Slip & Fall

27 years

10%
General Practice 1%

General civil litigation; property disputes;

30 years

1%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 28 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 1997

Active

No misconduct found

Location

The Law Office Of Sandra E. Johnston

705 S. 9th Street., Suite. 104, Tacoma, WA, 98405-4678

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Sandra Elaine Johnston's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

10 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (10) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 6 - 10 of 10 reviews

Posted by Sherry | June 12, 2011 | Child Custody

Thorough and true client advocate.

In any professional service I have ever had in my long walk in life, I have never had the attention and expertise given me that Sandra showed. When presented with a portion of our case that happened to be in Pierce County when we live in Snohomish County, she dug down 2 years into our ongoing 3rd par...ty custody case, our backgrounds and those backgrounds of our false accusers and compiled a fact filled, convincing, and compelling argument that was useful in our case as a whole and not just the part she defended us against. She went well over and above what would have been considered an appearance in a false anti-harassment case. Her staff paralegal is top notch and you will find no better I believe. Michelle's performance was late into the evening the same as Sandra's. She showed me the difference this type of assistant makes to the quantity of real hard information quickly presented to the attorney, and the format it can be presented in professionally, completely, and in a multitude of copies. She followed up with me frequently and on time. What a find for any practice. This type of attention makes you know that your best interest is the forefront of their agenda, right up until the time your case is won. Sandra listens. She listens and then goes to work with the energy of a typhoon. She is not distracted and keeps the client on track as well. I left with a positive outcome and much more, I left having met one of the truest and best real people I have ever met. When my grandson asked who she was, I told him she was our Courtroom Angel.....I meant it. I would not hesitate to recommend her or use her services again, and count myself fortunate she was recommended to us and she accepted our case.

Posted by Valerie and Mike | September 26, 2010 | Lawsuits & Disputes

outstanding

Sandra is an outstanding lawyer. She is very intelligent, has good judgement and knows the law well. Although she can fight hard for her clients, she used diplomacy in our case in gettting the opposing party to come to an agreement that suited us. We recommend her highly and wouldn't hesitate to use ...her again.

Posted by Frank | September 07, 2010 | Divorce & Separation

Outstanding job!

I feel that I was very fortunate to have found Sandra. My case was not an easy one. My case was a dissolution matter that involved custody of my two kids. There was sexual misconduct that happened, and Sandra was able to consult with the leading experts in this field and present the facts at trial. S...andra did a fantastic job putting together the pieces of my case. She was exceptionally knowledgeable of the law and how to present the facts. I would not ever hesitate to recommend Sandra. Although I hope I never have the need for an attorney again, I would not hesitate to seek Sandra for my representation.

Posted by anonymous | April 21, 2009 | Divorce & Separation

Hard working great attorney

Attorney Johnston has done great work with my dissolution case. She is a no nonsense, persistant lawyer who has handled my case and got me the outcome that I desired. She cares about her clients and it shows in the work she does. Thank You!!

Posted by anonymous | January 23, 2008 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Best Lawyer Ever

Ms. Johnston was very well prepared and presented my case better than I thought was possible. The outcome was very favorable. I credit the outcome to Ms. Johnston hard work and knowledge of the law and the court system.

See All Client Reviews

Sandra Elaine Johnston's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Sandra
Herbert Ira Ellis headshot
Herbert Ellis

Unknown lawyer | Dec 07

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer."

Hadi Edward Ramsey headshot
Hadi Ramsey

Unknown lawyer | Feb 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Dec 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Family lawyer | Nov 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Stephen D Trinen headshot
Stephen Trinen

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 18

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Sandra is a zealous and persistent advocate who fights hard for her clients."

David Charles Snell headshot
David Snell

Family lawyer | Sep 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Sandra. She is very creative and a passionate advocate for her clients. I would hire her in a minute."

Todd D. Schlossberg headshot
Todd Schlossberg

Family lawyer | Sep 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sandra is smart, creative, and tough as nails. A graduate of the renowned Trial Lawyers College, and fights tirelessly and tenaciously for her clients."

Daniel Eliot DeWoskin headshot
Daniel DeWoskin

Family lawyer | Apr 05

Relationship: Friend

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Sandra is an extremely agressive advocate devoted to her clients' interests. Her moral compass is unwavering and true. She is trustworthy, kind, and diligent. A client can ask for no more from an attorney than what Sandra can and always delivers. She is simply one of the best attorneys I have ever had the pleasure to know. I am proud to call her a dear friend."

View All Endorsements
Barbara L. Corey headshot
Barbara Corey

Violent crime lawyer

Scott Alexander Candoo headshot
Scott Candoo

Family lawyer

F. Mcnamara Jardine headshot
F. Jardine

General practice lawyer

Todd D. Schlossberg headshot
Todd Schlossberg

Personal injury lawyer

Kristine Grelish headshot
Kristine Grelish

Personal injury lawyer

Daniel Eliot DeWoskin headshot
Daniel DeWoskin

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.7 (Superb)

Honors

1997

Letter of appreciation from Dean James Bond, Seattle University, School of Law

1997

Who's Who of American Law Students, Who's Who Legal

1997

Who's Who Professional & Business Women, Who's Who

1997

Order of the Barristers, Moot Court Board, Seattle University, School of Law

1996

Who's Who of American Law Students, Who's Who Legal

1996

Who's Who Professional & Business Women, Who's Who

1996

Metzger Scholarship Finalist (competitive writing scholarship), Seattle University, School of Law

1995

Who's Who of American Law Students, Who's Who Legal

1994

Trustee"s Scholarship, Seattle University, School of Law

1993

Letter of appreciation from Ambassador J. V. Reed, UN, United Nations

1989

Letter of appreciation from CIA, Central Intelligence Agency

1986

Cum Laude & Political Science Honor's, Indiana University, Bloomington

1986

Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, Indiana University, Bloomington

1986

Golden Key National Honor Society, Indiana University, Bloomington

1986

Pi Sigma Alpha (National political science honor society), Indiana Univeristy, Bloomington

1986

Wendell L. Wilkie Award (Excellence in Political Science), Indiana University, Bloomington

1986

Letter of Appreciation, Dr. John Ryan, President, Indiana University

1985

Little 500 Scholarship, Indiana University, Bloomington

1980

Graduate with Honors in Russian, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Work Experience

1997 - Present

Attorney, The Law Office of Sandra E. Johnston

1997 - 1997

Contract Deputy Prosecutor, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

1996 - 1996

Legal Intern, Preston Gates & Ellis

1996 - 1997

Public Defender, Department of Assigned Counsel

1995 - 1995

Legal Intern, Drew & Napier, Singapore

1994 - 1994

Program Manager, KPMG Peat Marwick

1992 - 1993

Special Asst to the Excutive VP, Center for Strategic & International Studies

1987 - 1990

Intelligence Research Specialist (GS11), Navy Operational Intelligence Center

1978 - 1982

Electronic Warfare Signal Intelligence Analyst (Sergeant), US Army

Associations

2005 - Present

Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association

Member

1997 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2014 - 2015

Pierce County Minority Bar Association

Vice President

2008 - 2008

Pierce County Minority Bar Association

Chair, Youth & Law Forum

2008 - 2015

Pierce County Minority Bar Association

Chair, Judicial Evaluation Committee

2006 - 2007

Washington State Trial Lawyers Association

Co-chair, Holly Ball

2005 - 2008

Pierce County Minority Bar Association

Vice-Chair, Judicial Evaluation Committee

2005 - 2015

Pierce County Minority Bar Association

Member, Judicial Evaluation Committee

1999 - 2000

Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Criminal Law Section

Chair

1999 - 2009

Washington State Association for Justice, Women of WSAJ section

Member

1999 - 2009

Washington State Association for Justice

Eagle Member

1997 - 1998

American Bar Association

YLD Liaison to the ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law

1995 - 1997

American Bar Association

National Law Student Liaison to International Law Section

1994 - 1995

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Program Chair

1994 - 1995

Women's Law Caucus

Fund Raising Chair

Education

2009

Trial Warriors College

Grad I

2009

Trial Warriors College

Grad II

1997

Seattle University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1993

Georgetown University

Executive International Business Program

1986

Indiana University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1982

US Army

Several Certificates in Multiple Disciplines

Speaking Engagements

2009

Early Years of Litigation Practice

Military Family Law

2005

Practice Blues (Co-Chair)

Setting up a Solo Practice

2000

WSTLA Annual Meeting & Convention

BTC - "Breaking the Cycle" or "Breaking the Constitution"

2000

Early Years of Litigation Practice

How to Jump Right into your own Criminal Law Practice

Publications

1999

Trial News, Washington State Trial Lawyers Overview Criminal Law

Languages

Russian

Avvo Rating

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