Olson Legacy Law (formerly Eric A. Olson & Associates) has four generations in the practice of law, with almost 40 years of personal experience.
In 1928, A. E. Jonson began the family's practice of law here in the heart of Ballard, with real estate being his specialty. In 1936 his daughter, Bernice Jonson, graduated from law school, joined her father's firm, and then incorporated family law into the firm's practice. In 1977 her son, Eric A. Olson, graduated from law school and joined his mother's firm, where they specialized in family law and estate planning. And then in 2015, Eric's daughter, Ashley E. Olson, herself graduated from law school and joined him. (And, yes, Ashley has a school-age son who is a budding young lawyer.)
As a 4th generation family law attorney my entire life has been infused with the principles and best approaches in family law. While I approach each case with care and tact, I have extensive litigation experience and enjoy the dance of litigation. However, my focus always remains on settlement and the best interests of each client.
I approach each case as though it is my own and take a collaborative, future-oriented approach. Ultimately, it is the client who must live with the outcome of a case, and for that reason I expect each client to play an active role in his or her case. I want each client to feel empowered throughout the course of representation, making fully informed decisions as we work towards resolution.
My primary focus is domestic violence, high conflict custody disputes, CIR, and complex financial disputes. However, my first love is child custody, which not many attorneys can say. There is nothing more important than children and custody. I have a tenured background in psychology, and my approach in high conflict cases is unique and widely recognized within the Washington Legal Community. Because of my success in high conflict litigation, I am frequently asked to join cases, and have been invited to speak to both attorneys and our State Legislators about high conflict cases.
Our firm operates like a family and we rely on each other heavily to ensure that each client is represented to our best ability. I am proud of the community we have built at our firm as I believe we are home to some of the most innovative and hard working family law attorneys in our region.
I have a child, who is the center of my world, so I understand the importance of your child and the important role parents play in their child’s life. My son and I enjoy traveling together, trying new adventures, hiking, and a plethora of other activities.
I look forward to working with you to best navigate your situation to find the best outcome for you and your family.
An effective, experienced family law practitioner, Erik is dedicated to fighting for the rights of his clients. He’s a valuable member of the Eric A. Olson & Associates family and a powerful asset for the spouses and parents of the Seattle area. Erik Wise is a graduate of the Seattle University School of Law, where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship and two CALI Awards for Excellence. A former teacher, Erik strives to find creative solutions to the problems his clients face. He works with those he represents to reduce litigation, if possible, and uses all available legal tools to resolve the issues at hand and achieve an optimal result.
Helping assist and guide people through one of the most challenging times in their lives is what draws Erik to family law. In marriage dissolution actions, for one, it often becomes impossible for divorcing couples to amicably resolve their disagreements over property, custody, and support. In these situations, an effective family law attorney can make all the difference. Erik will vigorously advocate to ensure that his clients do not cede their rights, either inadvertently or by being pressured from the opposing side. Like the Eric and Ashley Olson, Erik is a Seattle native and attended its public schools. He has a BA in Comparative Literature with honors and a Masters in Elementary Education, both from the University of Washington. Although he grew up in North Seattle, Erik has lived in West Seattle for almost twenty years now. He is a voracious reader, with tastes covering many genres, has travelled to over twenty countries to date, and enjoys exploring the Puget Sound region.
Emily believes that the hallmark of excellent representation is thoughtful and diligent advocacy for the client. Emily graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she was a Provost Scholar and received awards for Scholastic Excellence. During her time in law school, Emily competed in several national negotiating competitions and ranked nationally with her teammates for several years. Prior to law school, Emily attended Gonzaga University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in Political Science and was a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honors Society.
Emily’s approach to family law places the client at the heart of her focus, representing each person holistically and remaining attentive to his or her goals. She strives to make the client feel as protected as possible throughout the course of representation. A firm negotiator, Emily believes that strong and transparent advocacy are essential to success in the context of family law.
Emily was born and raised in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, but her ultimate goal was to live and practice in Seattle. Emily loves enjoying the beautiful scenery that Seattle has to offer and enjoys any and all Northwest sports. In addition to being an attorney, Emily is a NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor and has assisted NFL players in securing high-value contracts that protect them throughout their playing career.
Bianca was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She attended Holy Names Academy, earned her B.A. in Accounting and J.D. from Seattle University.
Ms. Connell-Flint is a former deputy prosecutor with King County Prosecutor's office and a former assistant city attorney with the City of Seattle. Ms. Connell- Flint’s area of practice was criminal law and litigation.
She left criminal law in 2022 and shifted her practice area to: probate, estate planning, and family law.
Ms. Connell- Flint is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Loren Miller Bar Association, and The LINKS, Incorporated
“How do you do it?” That is the question I hear most often, and my response is always the same: “How can I not?” As a product of a large, blended family, and as a parent of twin girls, I understand the emotional toll a divorce, break up, or any family law related matter has on a person. Vulnerabilities are exposed, decisions seem impossible to make, and the range of feelings a person will go through makes resolution seem like an unattainable goal. I make it my life's purpose to take as many of these stressors off the client's shoulders and compartmentalize the situation to ease the burden. However, it takes empathy and compassion to effectively communicate and meld the client's goals with the law. Many family law attorneys lack my ability to view the situation from the perspective of the client while also maintaining a strong legal position to achieve the best outcome.
I know the difficulty spouses go through when there is familial conflict. Whether that be domestic violence, divorce, arguments over paying children's expenses, or who is going to get the family home – these are all areas of conflict that unfortunately many people will experience at least once in their lifetime. Many times the conflict is unexpected, or a person behaves in a way that seems so out of character that you no longer recognize them as you once remembered. These unfortunate realities create great sadness, grief, devastation, and a sense of loss, and when going through these intense emotions, it can seem almost cruel to be placed in a position where legal decisions have to be made. Having an effective litigator and counselor-at-law will be the best first choice to make when you are forced into the legal process.
My Approach
I take my personal experiences of dealing with trauma and grief into the litigation process to help my clients understand that their feelings are valid, but also to help the client gain perspective on realistic outcomes. Anybody can tell you what you want to hear and charge you for it, but that is ineffective and unethical when there is no likelihood of an outcome that correlates with false promises. The law is complex, confusing, and oftentimes feels unfair. Having a better understanding of what will be relevant to your case and presenting that in a way that best aligns with your goals is the paramount reason why my client's achieve success and peace in the worst of times. Sometimes achieving these goals does require aggressive litigation, and my trial experience of over a decade and familiarity with the court rules, law, and judges is an asset not commonly found in many family law attorneys. Additionally, my passionate representation in the courtroom also translates into highly effective representation in non-adversarial settings, such as mediations and settlement conferences. It is often the case that a settlement-focused approach will yield the best results because that allows everybody to walk away from the conflict with far less acrimony than they would have in a contested trial. I always endeavor to reduce the conflict and stress for my clients by not unnecessarily creating further discord but recognizing that the ultimate responsibility is to advocate.
So, how can I not help those in need during the most intense time in their life? How could I say no to the parent trying to protect their child who just witnessed domestic violence? Or the spouse who is being removed from their home under false allegations with no place to go? These are all tragedies I have experienced first hand, as well as experienced through the eyes of siblings, friends, other parents, and children. Everybody responds to conflict and tragedy differently, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to any situation. People need to be heard and their perspectives taken into consideration because family law matters involve the most intimate parts of a person's life. I pride myself in taking accountability in the outcome of my clients' cases because I understand that the most important decisions are going to be made with my representation and that is something I take personally.
Background
I am a South Carolina native and cum laude graduate of the Gonzaga School of Law in Spokane, Washington. While in Spokane, I started my legal career with a prestigious family law firm where I learned the tools necessary to zealously advocate on behalf of family law clients. From Spokane, I moved to Seattle and have worked in family law litigation for over a decade. I also represent pro bono clients on behalf of the Housing Justice Project of Seattle as a way to give back to the local community. During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and twin girls while exploring the bounty of nature that the Pacific Northwest provides.
Our principal Eric Olson is respected for excellent results in his cases and for his compassion in guiding his clients through turbulent times in their lives. Many of his clients come to him through word-of-mouth from previous clients. He truly is one of the good guys.
Eric has been practicing law in Washington since 1977 and is a third-generation lawyer. He graduated with honors from Gonzaga University Law School and earned his BA from Seattle Pacific University.
Eric is a Ballard native and attended public schools in Seattle. He is happily married, the proud father of three daughters, and has two grandchildren. The quintessential Northwesterner, Eric enjoys hiking, camping, fly fishing, is a former bow hunter, and enjoys reflecting on the journey of life.
