Julie A. Kays

Of Counsel

Biography

Julie is a trial lawyer.

She is a passionate advocate for adult and child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and sexual assault.  Julie has dedicated her 20-year legal career to fighting for justice for these and other victims of abuse.  She has tried well over one hundred cases to a jury.

Julie has an impressive trial record that includes over $20 million in jury verdicts, and settlements in excess of $30 million more. She has taken on high profile cases that hold the powerful in government accountable – and won.  Elias et al v. City of Seattle; Ferguson et al v. King County; Neff et al v. King County; Simmons v. Bellevue College.  Julie has successfully represented countless victims of physical and sexual abuse in lawsuits filed as a result of governmental misconduct.  Chagoya v. State; S.J. v. State; T.D. v. State; Seeman v. State; R.B. v. Puyallup School District; N.L. v.  Bethel School District; C.G. et al v. Highline School District.

For over a decade, Julie worked as a Senior Prosecuting Attorney in King County.  She specialized in the prosecution of sexual offenders.  Because of her extensive experience in, and knowledge of prosecuting sexual offenders, Julie is often invited to speak on panels discussing the rights of child victims.  She routinely does pro bono work on behalf of victims of physical and sexual abuse to help them navigate the criminal justice system.

Julie graduated from Seattle University in 1990 with a B.A. in political science. After graduating she moved to Washington D.C. to work for United States Senator Slade Gorton. In 1997 she returned home to the Pacific Northwest to enroll at Seattle University School of Law. She obtained her J.D., cum laude, and began her practice at the King County Prosecutor’s Office in 2000.  In 2010, she was awarded “Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year.”   Julie has been recognized as a 2020 Super Lawyer.  She is a current member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Julie is of counsel at Friedman | Rubin. For more information about Julie, see her personal website – JulieKays.com.

Education

Seattle University, B.A. Political Science (1990)

Seattle University School of Law, J.D. (2000)

Website

Memberships