James D. Laukkonen

     James Laukkonen has been restoring firearm rights, expunging records, and defending criminal cases for over a decade.  He has successfully handled matters from complex felonies to simple misdemeanors. James has taken cases in District and Superior courts throughout Western Washington as well as the Washington State Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Washington State Bar Association, and the Thurston County Bar Association. He was recently named as US Business News' Top Criminal Defense firm of 2019, 2020, and 2021 for Western Washington. 

     James graduated from Washington and Lee University, School of Law, in Virginia, and did his undergraduate studies at Western Washington University. He is a native of Washington, and he grew up in King and Snohomish Counties. At WWU, James studied Philosophy.  Many areas of his studies, such as Formal Logic, Epistemology and Ethics, all combine to create an excellent background for an attorney.  They contribute to the ability to break a statute down into its constituent propositions, to build solid arguments, and to spot the logical fallacies on which opponents’ arguments might be based.  Each of these skills is invaluable for any practicing attorney.

     For law school, James selected the prestigious Washington and Lee University in historic Lexington, VA.  Washington and Lee University School of Law has an excellent reputation for producing solid legal scholars.  While at W&L, James contributed to the Lexington Principles Project, and volunteered at Blue Ridge Legal Services in Lexington, a civil legal aid organization.

     James is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Desert Storm and Somalia while an active duty soldier.  Later, James spent several years in the reserves.