About Heather
Heather Forrler built a legal career that stretches from the classroom to the courthouse and into the mediation room. She combines formal training in law and psychology with practical experience running a small law firm. The result is a practice that approaches disputes from more than one angle.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington, graduating in 1991. She later completed her legal education at Seattle University School of Law, receiving her J.D. in 2002. Those two degrees inform how she thinks about clients and conflict. The psychology background shapes her approach to communication. The law degree provides the technical foundation.
Forrler founded Compass Legal Services P.S. in 2014 and has served as its managing lawyer since then. She established the firm to provide counsel and representation within her local community. Leading a small firm has meant handling a variety of tasks: client intake, case strategy, and the everyday management responsibilities that keep a practice running.
Outside the firm, Forrler expanded her skill set into mediation. She is a certified mediator through the Kitsap Dispute Resolution Center. That credential allows her to serve neutrally when parties seek an out-of-court resolution. Her mediation training informs how she prepares cases and how she frames options for clients, whether the path ends in a negotiated settlement or proceeds to litigation.
Her work is carried out in Washington, where she handles matters through Compass Legal Services P.S. The combination of litigation experience, case management, and mediation training gives her a range of tools to draw on. She regularly works on resolving contested matters, advising clients on choices, and representing them when legal proceedings are necessary.
Colleagues describe Forrler as steady in the courtroom and practical at the conference table. She prioritizes clear explanations and a realistic assessment of options. That outlook guides how she runs the firm and interacts with clients, opposing counsel, and mediators.
She maintains memberships in professional associations relevant to her practice and stays engaged with local dispute resolution resources. Her practice is anchored in Washington law and shaped by years of managing both cases and a law office. She currently practices in Washington, providing legal representation and mediation services through Compass Legal Services P.S.
