Michelle Kay Fossum

Michelle Kay Fossum

also known as Michelle K. Wolkey

4.2
Rating: 9.6

Licensed for 35 years

Employment and labor Lawyer at Spokane, WA
Practice Areas: Employment & Labor, Estate Planning, Probate ... +2 more

201 W North River Drive., Suite. 460, Spokane, WA

About Michelle

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Probate 20%

20 years

20%
Litigation 10%

35 years

10%
Trusts 10%

20 years

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 300-350 per hour

Contingency

33%-40%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Idaho for 18 years

State: Idaho

Acquired: 2007

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Washington for 35 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 1990

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Sayre Sayre & Fossum, P.S.

201 W North River Drive., Suite. 460, Spokane, WA, 99201

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Michelle Kay Fossum's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.2 /5.0

5 Client Reviews

5 star (4)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (1)

Posted by anonymous | February 22, 2019 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Not thorough

As somebody who worked in top law firms, I can say that Michelle is not a very good lawyer. She is not thorough and we later found out that she has a reputation of not being thorough, which is the worst quality for a lawyer. Needs some work on communication. Took her a while to get back to us and som...e messages were not answered. She could also stand to be more aggressive instead of nice. I would not recommend.

Posted by Amy | January 16, 2014

Exactly what I needed

I was laid off 38 days after filing a hostile-work-environment sexual harrasment complaint at my organization. I knew this complaint was a key factor in my layoff. I turned to Michelle, who had also instructed me in a course at Whitworth University, and she walked me through my options. Instea...d of going through a long lawsuit process, I was able to negotiate a larger severance pay. This enabled me to stand up for myself without damaging my professional reputation in a small community. This was a perfect solution for me and my family. If I have similar needs in the future, I'll absolutely use her again.

Posted by Josh | March 5, 2013

Fantastic lawyer for our needs

Michelle Fossum and her staff worked so hard and dilligently on our case. She always kept us in the loop and we had access to her and her staff anytime we needed them. I can't say enough good things about Michelle and my wife and myself couldn't be happier with the outcome of our case. Would recommen...d her to anyone!

Posted by Gerrie | September 5, 2012

Employment Lawsuit - Noncompete

I do not live in the state that I was sued so I had to hire an attorney in the state where I was being sued that I had never met to represent me. I was blessed to have hired Michelle Fossum who upon taking my case responded immediately and was the most effective, efficient and responsive attorney th...at I have ever encountered. Even though my case was not a life or death matter, Michelle treated it as though it was. I had access to her 24/7. She kept me informed at every step of the negotiations and she would not let the sun go down without giving me a call with the latest information so I could rest easy at night and week-ends. She listened to me, and made sure that she fought for the issues that were important to me. She explained in detail any issue that I questioned without making me feel compromised. Within record time she had a successful resolution to my case at unbeliveable low cost due to her immediate attention to all details and quick execution. I would recommend her to anyone with employment law issues!

Posted by Wayne | October 8, 2009

Great Lawyer for my business needs.

Michelle Wolkey and her office staff are courteous, professional and dedicated to our business. They work hard to understand the core of our business and does represents our company well. We feel very confident with Michelle Wolkey and her abilities to handle the unfortunate matters that a small busi...ness may face in to days market.

See All Client Reviews

Michelle Kay Fossum's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Michelle
David A. Kulisch headshot
David Kulisch

Employment and labor lawyer | May 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michelle is an excellent lawyer. She is knowledgeable, decisive and an incredibly hard worker. I endorse this lawyer without reservation."

Susan Wilder Troppmann headshot
Susan Troppmann

Litigation lawyer | Sep 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Michelle is an experienced and excellent attorney."

Kathryn Rae McKinley headshot
Kathryn McKinley

Employment and labor lawyer | Jun 11

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Michelle is an outstanding attorney with the highest ethical standards."

View All Endorsements
David A. Kulisch headshot
David Kulisch

Insurance lawyer

Susan Wilder Troppmann headshot
Susan Troppmann

Employment and labor lawyer

Kathryn Rae McKinley headshot
Kathryn McKinley

Construction and development lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.6 (Superb)

Honors

2013

Spokane's Top Lawyers, Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine

2012

Spokane's Top Lawyers, Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine

2011

Top Lawyers 2011, Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine

2010

Top Lawyers 2010, Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine

2010

BV, Martindale-Hubbell

2005

Spokane's Best Lawyers Honorable Mention, Spokane Coeur D'Alene Living Magazine

Work Experience

2010 - Present

Senior Adjunct Faculty, Whitworth University

2005 - Present

Partner, McKinley Fossum, P.S.

2011 - 2012

Adjunct Professor, Gonzaga University School Of Law

1999 - 2010

Adjunct Professor, Whitworth University

1995 - 2005

Partner, Michelle K. Wolkey, P.S.

1990 - 1995

Associate, Underwood, Campbell, Brock & Cerutti, P.S.

Associations

2010 - Present

WSAJ CLE Committee

Committee Member

2008 - Present

Spokane North Rotary

Member

2008 - Present

Washington Women Lawyers Foundation

Board Member

1992 - Present

Washington State Association for Justice

Member

1990 - Present

Washington Women Lawyers

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Burbo v. Harley Douglass, Inc., 125 Wn.App. 684, 106 P.3d 258 (2005)

Successful Result for client

Reichert v. Cowles Publishing Co., 121 Wn.App. 1072 (2004)

Successful outcome for client

See More Legal Cases

Education

1990

Gonzaga University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1987

Eastern Washington University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2008

WSTLA 2008 Annual Meeting and Convention

Juror Bias and Misconduct

2006

Labor and Employment Law Conference

EEOC Investigations

2006

Expanding Your Practice to Include Consumer Law

The Implied Warranty of Habiltability in New Home Sales

2006

Advanced Topics In Real Estate Development

Warranties

2006

2006 WSBA Solo and Small Firm Conference

Avoiding Disaster: Employment Traps for the Small Firm

2000

Personnel Law Update 2000

Employment Discrimination

1998

Personnel Law Update 1998

Anti-Discrimination and EEO Policies

1995

Wrongful Discharge or Just Dismissal?

Impact of Personnel Policies and Employee Handbooks

Avvo Rating

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