Brooks Baldwin

Brooks’ unique background includes a lengthy stint as a seasoned litigation attorney in criminal defense, followed by a 14-year career as a premier freelance journalist in the spa and wellness industry. During her 8+ year career as a litigation attorney, Brooks became disenchanted with the acrimonious and competitive nature of the litigation process as well as the resulting exorbitant expenses borne by the participants. Passionate about writing, wellness, and travel, Brooks executed a dramatic 180-degree career shift reinventing herself as a freelance writer reporting on spas and related topics of wellness, global spa travel, consumer reviews, and industry news. In 2005, following her own anguishing divorce, Brooks became a volunteer facilitator for the “Beyond Divorce” program at University Presbyterian Church (UPC) in Seattle. This had been a primary goal of Brooks’ since she and her young children had benefited so greatly from the program during her own divorce. While in her facilitator capacity, she also received Stephen Ministry training provided by UPC so as to provide heightened care to support group participants. Brooks dedicated a decade to her role as a volunteer facilitator, serving in a variety of weekly divorce support groups throughout the Puget Sound area. Compassionately reaching out to others enduring painful and traumatic divorce experiences and shepherding them gently through it, became a fulfilling and meaningful endeavor for Brooks. In 2011, having learned about the Collaborative Law movement in Family and Divorce matters and its many benefits to divorcing couples and their families, Brooks returned to legal practice, albeit in a Collaborative capacity, respectfully bypassing the acrimonious and costly litigation process and intimidating courtroom atmosphere.