About Vanessa K.
Vanessa K. Mathisen earned her undergraduate degree at Chapman University, completing a B.A. in social sciences in 2010. She went on to law school at Gonzaga University, receiving her J.D. in 2016. Those years shaped a practical approach to law. Classroom study and clinic work at Gonzaga gave her early exposure to client work and courtroom procedure.
After law school, Mathisen began practicing in Washington. She joined the legal community there and has maintained an active practice since. In 2019 she launched Allium Law PLLC and has served as owner and lawyer of that firm since then. Running a small firm requires attention to both legal work and the operational side of practice. Mathisen has handled that balance while keeping a caseload that reflects the needs of individual and family clients.
Her involvement in professional associations has been steady. She joined the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2017 and has been an active member ever since. In 2023 she took on a leadership role as executive committee treasurer for the AILA Washington chapter. That position put her in charge of budgeting and financial oversight for the chapter’s activities. The role also expanded her network among immigration practitioners across the state.
Mathisen has also returned to academia in a teaching role. In 2024 Gonzaga University School of Law brought her on as an adjunct professor of law. In that capacity she has worked with law students in classroom settings and has brought real-world practice to discussions about immigration and administrative processes. Students and colleagues say she is pragmatic in the classroom, encouraging clear thinking about client advocacy.
Her practice reflects the threads of her career. Mathisen handles matters commonly seen in immigration practice and related administrative work. She represents individuals and families, files petitions and applications, and appears before administrative bodies when needed. The firm’s size allows her to provide hands-on attention to cases while coordinating with outside counsel when matters require broader resources.
Colleagues describe Mathisen as methodical and detail-oriented. She balances the demands of running a firm with duties in bar and professional groups and occasional teaching. Based in Washington, she continues to lead Allium Law PLLC and to take cases that align with immigration and administrative law issues. She currently practices immigration law and related matters.
