Deborah Holbert became an associate of the O’Mhuan Law Offices in November, 2011, after following a rather unusual path to attain the goal she had wanted since graduating from college 30 years earlier.
Ken O’Mhuan, has been a practicing attorney for 40 years, and has had a law practice on Whidbey Island since 1995. He had been thinking about the need to find a fellow attorney to assure continuity to his clients when he wasn’t available.
Deborah finds her way to Whidbey Island
Deborah graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1980 with a degree in Economics and was a practicing economist for the government and a private consulting firm for 10 years before going into business for herself. In 1990 Deborah and her husband Douglas moved to Whidbey Island when her husband was hired by the county as an Engineer.
Deborah had a retail florist business in Langley for 10 years; then became a stay-at-home mom for her young son, Will.
Once Will started school in 2003, Deborah wanted to return to the working world but wasn’t sure what to do. She had always wanted to go to law school and with the encouragement of her husband and father decided to follow that dream. In 2008 Deborah graduated from Concord Law School, an on-line law school based in California. She still needed to do work to pass the Bar in Washington State. She learned that Washington is one of only seven states that allows a person to become an attorney by working as a law clerk for an attorney and following a strict course of mentored instruction.
She sent out dozens of letters to attorneys in the Northwest looking for a mentor to support her in the program. It took nearly a year to find the right situation.
Ken O’Mhuan meets Deborah Holbert
Ken O’Mhuan interviewed Deborah in 2009 and decided she would be an excellent fit, and she began her work as a law clerk for O’Mhuan Law Offices.. Ken loved the challenge and the history of access to the profession. Deborah loved the hands-on approach to learning the law.
Deborah took the Washington State Bar exam in July, 2011 and was notified in October that she had passed on her first attempt. On November 4, 2011 Deborah became a licensed attorney in the State of Washington.
Deborah is now an Associate with the Law Office of G. Kenneth O’Mhuan in Freeland. Ken O’Mhuan feels confident that the quality reputation he has established on Whidbey Island will be strengthened by the addition of Deborah to his law firm.
O'Mhuan Law Offices, speciailzing in estate planning, wills, trusts and general practice law, is located at 5511 Freeland Avenue, Freeland; phone: 360-331-7456.
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