Experience and Practice Areas

My experience has uniquely prepared me to represent the interests of individuals in various areas of the law.

I attended Pacific University in beautiful Forest Grove, Oregon, where I studied political science and literature and competed with the speech and debate team. I attended law school at the University of South Dakota, serving on the Board of Editors of the South Dakota Law Review. After law school, I returned to Oregon and was fortunate to work with some of the most dedicated, loyal, and hard-working attorneys in our community, in a 5 person downtown Portland civil litigation firm. My position there afforded me the opportunity to work with various types of individuals, families and small businesses dealing with diverse legal issues, including personal injury work, estate planning, contractual disputes, business litigation, real estate disputes, family law, elder advocacy, probate and probate litigation. I was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 2001 and have maintained an active practice in Oregon ever since, including membership of the Federal District Court in Oregon. In 2007 I became a member of the Washington State Bar.

I am committed to helping individuals who have been injured by the negligence or misdeeds of others. I understand and sympathize with the immediate stress and confusion after an accident or injurious event and the consequences you or a loved one may be facing. I work to assist my clients untangle the complex issues that may arise after an accident or injurious event and to effectively navigate the path to recovery.

I assist individuals and families in drafting wills, forming trusts, helping to manage and pass on those assets gained over a lifetime of hard work. My experience extends to supporting clients through the probate process when a loved one passes.

I aid businesses and individuals faced with legal problems that arise, pursuing injustices and providing a vigorous defense.

In Oregon and Washington there are a great number of talented and experienced attorneys from which to choose. I believe there are several important factors to consider when selecting an attorney to represent you during your pursuit of justice, your plan to organize and detail your estate, and in times where you need to be defended. The factors I encourage one to consider include:
Experience: The experience of your attorney can be incredibly important. The more experience an attorney has dealing with insurance companies and their lawyers, and in investigating your case and all potential avenues of recovery, the better they can represent you.
Commitment: Sadly, some lawyers and law firms are committed foremost to their own agenda and desires. Such motivation can affect the advocacy provided. The best representation comes from counsel that is committed to fully understanding the needs, desires and limits of the client.
Personal Attention: When dealing with physical and emotional pain, the loss of a loved one, or in contemplating estates, it can be incredibly difficult to deal with the legal issues involved. You deserve a lawyer who will personally meet you, speak with you, and handle every aspect of your legal case, and be available to answer your questions and address your concerns as they arise.

My practice is to provide individual attention, skilled advocacy, genuine counsel, and promote effective and efficient solutions to earnest members of my community. I work diligently and with the intention to provide comprehensive and compassionate representation.

Joanna L. Dorchuck