Leah is a solutions-oriented litigator and a tenacious advocate for her clients. Leah works closely with her clients to identify and navigate the issues that may interfere with their most direct route to their goals in light of their circumstances. In every case, she strategizes and pursues the path of least resistance to maximize her clients’ success.
She is a former King County Prosecuting Attorney with over 20 years of legal experience, including 19 years as a trial attorney. But she is no stranger to struggle and individual perseverance and work. She is also a single mother and self-starter, with real life, very personal experience that contributes her exceptional ability to understand the issues facing her clients and tailor her approach to each individual client and each specific case.
Leah was born in Los Angeles and raised in South King County. She is the second oldest of her parents' eight children. Her father worked as a janitor, and her mother worked as a full time parent. Ms. Altaras attended Seattle Christian School on scholarship, graduating in 1997. She then attended the University of Washington, graduating in 2002 with bachelor’s degrees in both Journalism and American Ethnic Studies. In 2004, she returned to her Alma Matter for law school.
During law school, she participated in moot court and was writer and editor for the Schidler Technology Law Journal as well as the Vice President of Student Programming for the Student Bar Association. She was involved in the Latino Law Student Association as well as the Jewish Law Student Association. She also served as a Rule 9 Intern for both the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the City of Seattle Attorney’s Office, and also worked as an Infraction Hearing Officer for the University of Washington Police Department. During her internship with King County, she worked in the Fraud Unit, prosecuting misdemeanor crimes with a focus on Unregistered Contractors and Department of Fish and Wildlife Offenses. Simultaneously, she worked for the civil infractions unit of the City of Seattle Attorney’s Office as a rule 9 intern, prosecuting all manner of civil infractions, including traffic and animal control offenses.
Leah graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2007. On admission to the bar, she transitioned from intern to Prosecuting Attorney for King County, and worked as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 2007 through 2012. In that capacity, Leah litigated hundreds of criminal cases from misdemeanors to serious violent felonies. In the course of her work, she prosecuted many jury trials in both District and Superior Courts. She also practiced appellate work in both King County Superior Court and Division I Washington Appellate Court. Since she began her practice in 2012, after leaving the Prosecutor's Office, Leah has defended and resolved all levels of criminal offenses, from simple misdemeanors to third strike cases. She has sued the government for discrimination and excessive use of force. Her practice includes an emphasis in family law, specializing in high conflict disputes and protection order work. She also practices select civil litigation in the areas of personal injury, contract disputes, construction law, disputed wills, and general practice.
Leah is a former board member, chair of the Criminal Law Section, and member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the King County Washington Women Lawyers Association. She is dedicated to serving her community and has advised Seattle mayors Nickels and McGinn as a member of the Citizen’s Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee and the Technology Matching Fund Grant Review Committee. She has also served as a judge for Mock Trial Competitions at both the Seattle University School of Law and the University of Washington School of Law.
Leah’s hobbies are hanging out with her toddler and fostering the well being of her 4 rescue dogs and her rescue bearded dragon. She also travels with her son when she can find the time (and the pet sitter).
It is with great pride and passion for defending all of our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that Leah founded Altaras Law PLLC .