Joseph Robert Shaeffer
MacDonald Hoague & Bayless • Seattle, WA
DiscriminationCivil Rights LitigationEmployment LawInsurancePersonal Injury
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Contact
Email
joe@mhb.com
Phone
(855) 519-2535
Address
Seattle, WA, US
Professional
About
Joseph Robert Shaeffer is a seasoned attorney based in Seattle, WA, with over two decades of experience in civil rights litigation, employment law, insurance, and personal injury. A graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor in 2002, Joe also holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Cornell University, awarded in 1992. Joe specializes in advocating for employees' rights, focusing on the recovery of unpaid and underpaid wages, overtime compensation, and damages from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in both federal and state courts. His commitment to civil rights extends to addressing police misconduct and civil rights abuses, including challenging unjust "trespass admonishments." Additionally, Joe has successfully litigated cases involving insurance bad faith, personal injury claims, and housing discrimination, as well as providing post-conviction relief in criminal cases. Before establishing his practice, Joe honed his legal skills as a law clerk to the Honorable Marsha J. Pechman of the Western District of Washington from 2002 to 2004, and subsequently to the Honorable Betty Binns Fletcher of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 2004 to 2005. His diverse background also includes serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar, where he worked in national parks from 1994 to 1997, embodying his dedication to community service and justice. With a passion for championing the rights of individuals and a proven track record in complex litigation, Joseph Robert Shaeffer is a trusted advocate for those seeking justice in the face of adversity.
About Discrimination Law
Discrimination attorneys represent individuals who have faced unfair treatment based on protected characteristics. They fight for equal rights in employment, housing, and public services. Common matters include employment discrimination, housing discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination.
Credentials
Education
2002 University of Washington School of Law JD - Juris Doctor 1992 Cornell University BA - Bachelor of Arts 1992 Cornell University BA - Bachelor of Arts
Languages
English
Recognition & Involvement
Awards
2022 Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers 2021 Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers 2020 Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers 2012 Washington Rising Star, Washington Law & Politics Magazine 2011 Washington Rising Star, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
Associations
2017 - Present Unemployment Law Project Board Member and President 2013 - Present Washington Employment Lawyers Association Member of the Amicus Committee 2010 - Present United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Admitted 2006 - Present American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Cooperating Attorney 2005 - Present United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Admitted
Speaking
2017 In-house CLE 1983 Litigatoin 2016 CLE on Informal Discovery Informal Discovery 2015 Labor and Employment Law Conference Hot Topics in Employment Discrimination Law 2007 Pincus Communications, CLE Practice Before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, A Clerk’s Eye View N/A Clerkship Information Session Clerkships
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Updated: May 25, 2026