My name is Chris Raymond. As the owner of the Law Offices of Chris Raymond, PSC, I think it is important for you to know a bit about me before deciding to entrust something this important to me. I grew up locally in Lake Stevens, Washington. Growing up in a small town taught me the value of being a good neighbor and the rewards of helping people out when they were in trouble. My father was a local minister, and I have always tried to follow his teachings of the importance of community and fellowship. I try to establish a bond with my clients, and nothing makes me feel better than to hear from past clients that they are doing well. Often I will run into a former client on the street and they will talk to me about the new house that they just bought or the peace and quiet of not having collection calls.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington in 1991 and then from Seattle University Law School in 1995. My last semester of law school, I interned for the Hon. Sidney Volinn on the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, which led to my first job as a lawyer as the judicial clerk for the Hon. Karen Overstreet of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington. As a result of these two experiences, I found that I understood the bankruptcy system well and enjoyed working in it. Also, my time at the Court provided me with connections to the people I now deal with on a daily basis on behalf of my clients.

In 1996, I went out into private practice, representing banks and mortgage companies. In many ways, this was a good job. The pay was excellent. The work was interesting. I was learning a great deal. The problem was I did not feel right about what I was doing. Helping to foreclose on people's houses went against everything I was raised on. So, in 1997, I left and joined the Law Offices of Jim Cleland, where I became a partner in Cleland & Raymond. Finally, I found my place in the legal world. Representing good people at their lowest point and helping them get back on track is more rewarding than I can describe. In 1999, I took the final step of going out on my own.

To date, I have represented (or supervised the representation of) over 5,000 families in gaining the fresh start that they deserve. I have also grown in my participation in the legal community. I am a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees, and the local Creditor-Debtor section of the Federal Bar Association. I believe that my experience, attitude, and skills make me an excellent lawyer for my clients, and I hope you will discover the same.