Bethany M. Kirk

Senior Counsel

Areas of Practice:

Bethany represents individuals and governmental entities in a wide array of subject matters, including administrative law, labor and employment and education. Bethany has extensive litigation experience, representing clients in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies. She prioritizes guiding clients through the litigation process in a manner that keeps both short and long-term goals in mind, including how to minimize the risk of litigation moving forward.

Prior to joining Mickes O’Toole, Bethany was in private practice. She has worked in various fields, including family law, contract disputes, business formation, personal injury, and municipal law. Bethany also previously served as an Assistant Attorney General for Washington State. Working in the Regional Services Division, Bethany served as a strong advocate for state agencies in formal and informal hearings and proceedings. In addition, she provided day-to-day advice on policy formation and compliance.

In law school, Bethany interned with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) and with the Honorable Judge Marlin J. Applewick (WA State Court of Appeal, Div. I). She served as an Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Pacific Rim Law and Policy Journal.

When not lawyering, Bethany enjoys playing piano, hiking in the great outdoors, and hiding from the great outdoors with a good book.

Education

  • Seattle University, Bachelor of Arts
    • Magna cum laude
    • Political Science with a Specialization in Legal Studies
  • University of Washington School of Law, J.D.

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Washington State
  • Idaho

Professional Affiliations

  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Idaho Bar Association

Honors

Best Law FirmBest Places to Work: Law Firm

Featured Resources

News & Articles

Client Alert: Department of Education Requiring Certification Regarding Title VI Compliance

April 4, 2025 Written by Shawn McLain & Natalie Hoernschemeyer On April 3, 2025, the United State’s ...

Client Alert: Trump Executive Order to Dismantle U.S. Department Of Education: What Schools Need to Know

March 21, 2025 Written by Natalie Hoernschemeyer, Grant Wiens & Josh Douglass Yesterday, on March 20, 2025, ...

Announcing the 2025 Annual School Law Seminars

Mickes O’Toole is excited to announce the 2025 Annual School Law Seminars. This year’s dates and locations are ...

Client Alert: Immigration Enforcement in Schools: ICE and CBP Actions Explained

January 28, 2025 Written by Natalie Hoernschemeyer, Grant Wiens, Bethany Kirk & Abbey Widick Missouri public ...

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