About Shira
Shira Stefanik built her legal path deliberately. She balanced an early interest in writing and the arts with practical work before turning to law. The result is a practice that pairs careful case preparation with plainspoken advocacy.
She completed a B.A. at Evergreen State College in 1998, studying writing, art and health. Stefanik then enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2005 and earned her J.D. in 2008. The mix of a liberal arts undergraduate education and a later professional degree shaped how she approaches cases — attention to narrative and detail matters to her.
After law school Stefanik began practicing in Washington. She joined several professional organizations early in her career and has maintained active memberships ever since. Her affiliations include the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, both dating to 2009. She added national memberships in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Washington Defender Association in 2010.
Those memberships reflect the areas of law she handles. Much of Stefanik’s work involves criminal defense, including representation of clients facing DUI-related charges. She has been a member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association since 2018 and serves on the Cardozo Society committee, a role she accepted in 2015. Those positions give her regular contact with colleagues and current developments in trial practice.
Colleagues describe her approach as pragmatic. She prepares for trial but also assesses where negotiated resolutions may better serve clients’ long-term interests. Courtroom work, client counseling and case preparation all appear in her practice. She favors clear explanations over legalese and aims to keep clients informed about strategy and likely outcomes.
Stefanik operates the Law Office of Shira J. Stefanik in Washington. She maintains memberships in both state and national criminal defense organizations to stay current on changes in law and procedure. Her day-to-day practice centers on criminal and DUI defense at her private practice.
