Steven N. Bogdon
Practice
Steve Bogdon has practiced law since 1982. He is admitted to both the Washington State Bar and Oregon State Bar. His practice emphasizes family law, including divorce, child support, parenting and other family law issues. He also represents parents of children with disabilities in disputes with school districts regarding special education and related services.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, 1978
- Juris Doctor, University of Washington, 1982
Professional History
Steve began practicing law at a time when many lawyers engaged in the general practice of law, serving the diverse needs of clients. His early experience spanned a wide range of practice areas, including litigation related to employment, real estate, construction, and contracts, debt collection and bankruptcy, as well as family law. He has practiced in Washington, Oregon and federal courts at all levels, including administrative hearings, trial courts, and appellate courts. He developed a special expertise in employment law during the 1980s at a time when the laws protecting employees were being defined and contributed to that process in a decision issued by the Oregon Court of Appeals addressing issues not previously decided in the state of Oregon in Coulter v. Construction & General Laborers Union, 107 Or.App. 522 (1991).
In 1991, Steve was offered an opportunity to limit his practice area to family law when he joined and became a partner at Blair, Schaefer, Hutchison & Wolfe LLP, where he practiced law until leaving in 2005 with Juliet Laycoe to form their current firm. Steve's background prior to law school working in the area of social services made family law a natural fit. He saw the opportunity to help individuals facing one of life's most difficult times in divorce by limiting his practice and bringing to bear the skills he had acquired in other practice areas. He recognized that, as the practice of family law had become more specialized, the family law practitioner had to be able to navigate an array of sophisticated issues and to work with experts in areas such as real estate valuation, business valuation, financial planning, forensic accounting, mental and physical health care, and vocational planning. Steve is a past president of the Clark County Bar Association Family Law Section.
Early in his career, Steve developed an interest in special education law. He has counseled and represented parents of children with disabilities in disputes with school districts related to the child's right to receive a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. He finds this work tremendously rewarding as he has helped to ensure that children with diverse disabilities, including autism, behavioral and emotional disabilities, learning disabilities, hearing impairment, and other disabilities, receive the special education and related services to which they are entitled. He has advised parents, attended educational meetings and represented parents in due process hearings and appeals to state and federal courts.
Professional Presentations
“Objections to Relocation – Not Always a Lost Cause,” 2008 Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section Midyear Seminar