Meet Attorney Leslie M. Blankman, JD, CDFA®

Leslie M. Blankman is a Washington State licensed attorney, certified mediator, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® practicing in Kirkland, Washington. Leslie is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law. In addition to her legal studies, Leslie’s background in Behavioral Sciences provides her with the ability and skills to navigate her clients through the legal and the emotional aspects of divorce. She is a compassionate practitioner with a focus on meeting the goals and interests of her clients.

Promoting Collaborative Law and educating the public about alternative dispute options is important to Leslie. She is an active member in the Collaborative Practice community. She is on the board of Collaborative Professionals of Washington and King County Collaborative Law. She was President of Collaborative Professionals of Washington in 2022 and enjoys working with other Collaborative Professionals on multiple committees that aim to promote the practice of Collaborative Law.

Leslie’s mediation practice focuses on disputes in which there is a need for an ongoing relationship including, family law (divorce, legal separation, parenting plans, child support, custody issues), neighbor, landlord/tenant, work-place, Home Owner Association (HOA), and partner disputes. Leslie is a recurring trainer for Basic Mediation and Family Mediation courses in Washington.

Prior to launching Blankman Law & Mediation, Leslie spent 14 years at Microsoft in engineering, where she worked on Microsoft Office for the Mac, Windows Phone, and Microsoft Speech Technologies, and in Legal and Corporate Affairs, where she supported the Silicon Architecture Team and the Developer Division. To facilitate the change from technology to family law, Leslie completed a Family Law Fellowship through Eastside Legal Assistance Program where she represented clients in Domestic Violence Protection Order and Family Law matters. Working in legal aid was a rewarding experience that is the cornerstone of Leslie’s practice.

​Professional Associations

• Washington State Bar Association​
  • Panel Member of WSBA Moderate Means Program
  • Pro-bono and Public Service Committee (2015-2017)
• Collaborative Professionals of Washington
  • Board Member (2018-2020, 2022-Present)
  • President (2022)
• King County Collaborative Law
  • Board Member (2020-Present)
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
• King County Bar Association
• American Bar Association​
• Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
• Washington Mediation Association
• Washington Women Lawyers

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Pro-bono work

• Eastside Legal Assistance Program
  • Leslie served as a member of the advisory board for the ELAP Family Law Fellowship Program. She also assisted clients through the ELAP Family Law Clinics.
• Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties
  • Leslie served as a volunteer mediator through the DRC of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties. Leslie mediated family law and work-place matters.
• Neighborhood Legal Clinics​
  • Leslie counseled clients on various legal issues through the Neighborhood Legal Clinics. ​

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Speeches, Trainings, and Publications

Family Mediation Training
April 13, 2021- Ongoing
Leslie teaches the Dissolution Process session of the Family Mediation Training course through King County Dispute Resolution Center and Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties.

Basic Mediation Training
August 25, 2020 – Ongoing
Leslie currently teaches the Mediator Ethics and Legal Framework and Client Opening sessions of the Basic Mediation Training (BMT) through the Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties. She also provides coaching, assessment, and feedback for mediation practicum candidates and students.

Transitioning to a Collaborative Law Practice
February 17, 2023
Leslie served as a panel member of Transitioning to a Collaborative Law Practice presented by the Collaborative Law section of the King County Bar Association.

Protection Order Changes in Washington State
September 15, 2022
Leslie presented a training on the Protection Order changes in Washington State through the Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties.

Domestic Violence Screening in Collaborative Law
September 5, 2018
Leslie presented a lecture on Domestic Violence Screening to Eastside King County Collaborative Law colleagues.
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Domestic Violence Considerations during Mediation
May 17, 2016
Leslie presented a lecture on Domestic Violence Considerations during Mediation through the Dispute Resolution Center of Snohomish and Island Counties.

​New Lawyer Education: Mediation Basics
January 19, 2016
Leslie served as faculty member and panelist for “New Lawyer Education: Mediation Basics” CLE, through the Washington State Bar Association.

​Divorce Roadmap: Taking the Mystery out of Dissolution
January 21, 2016
Leslie presented community lecture on the dissolution process at the Redmond library in partnership with the Eastside Legal Assistance Program.

​ELAP Breakfast for Justice
May 14, 2015
Leslie spoke about her experience as a Family Law Fellow at the ELAP Breakfast for Justice, ELAP’s annual fundraising breakfast.

​Divorce Roadmap: Taking the Mystery out of Dissolution
March 31, 2015
Leslie presented “Divorce Roadmap: Taking the Mystery out of Dissolutions” at the Mercer Island Community Center.