Grace Beardsley joined Snohomish County Legal Services in August of 2022 where she began volunteering with the Housing Justice Project Department. Grace was soon after offered employment to be a contract legal assistant, and now works as our full time administrative assistant. Grace recently graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University where she earned BA’s in Criminal Justice and Political Science. She aspires to attend law school in the fall of 2023 and hopes to study somewhere in the southern United States. In her free time, Grace likes to walk her chow lab, go to the gym, and read her extensive collection of Stephen King books. Grace has lived in Everett, WA for most of her life and could not be more proud to serve our great community that is Snohomish County!
Stephanie Cortes joins Snohomish County Legal Services as a Paralegal. She shares SCLS’s commitment to fostering social and economic development in communities by addressing vital needs of the public. Stephanie is originally from California and completed her undergraduate degree at the California State University of Pomona with a Bachelor in Political Science and Minor in Management of Human Resources. After graduating, she worked with the national service program, Americorps JusticeCorps and the non-profit organization, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, where she educated litigants without an attorney on how to navigate the family, housing, and immigration court systems. Partnering with legal aid organizations to assist low-income communities has shown her how challenging navigating the legal system could be for clients without an attorney. In turn, this has motivated her to begin working as a family and housing legal intern with Snohomish County Legal Services in March 2022. Inspired to continue supporting the expansion of services in the Washington community, she is currently working as our RTC Paralegal with our dedicated Housing Justice team. Stephanie looks forward to expanding legal services and resources that will empower low-income and Spanish-speaking individuals navigating through civil legal proceedings.
Olivia is a staff attorney for the Housing Justice Project with Snohomish County Legal Services. Olivia is a recent graduate from the University of Gonzaga School of Law and licensed to practice in Washington. Olivia has a broad spectrum of experience working in the public interest sector, externing within judge chambers of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, volunteering with the Washington State Moderate Means Program and the Gonzaga Elder Law Clinic. In her dedication to public interest work and continued efforts to serve her community, Olivia graduated with pro bono distinction.
Prior to law school Olivia attended the University of Washington, earning her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies. Now returning to the Puget Sound region to practice law, Olivia is eager to continue her passion for providing civil legal aid full time.
When she isn’t practicing law, Olivia enjoys exploring the outdoors and local coffee shops.
Miroslaba (Miros) Vazquez joined Snohomish County Legal Services in August of 2022 as part of the our Housing Justice Project (HJP) team, in an administrative support capacity. Her experience in being both an administrative assistant and a receptionist in property management makes her an asset to the agency. Miros says that while her work experience is from the landlord side of housing she is happy to work in an agency that helps low income tenants facing eviction. Miros is bilingual (Spanish/English) which is very beneficial to the Housing Justice Department as many of the clients served by SCLS speak Spanish as their primary language. Miros comes to Washington from California. When she isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her family, doing crafts such as making personalized tee-shirts and mugs, exploring and trying new things.
Austin Hsu is a Staff Attorney with Snohomish County Legal Services (SCLS) licensed to practice law in Hawaii and Washington with a long history of public service. Prior to joining SCLS, Austin worked in the private sector as a family law attorney, as an Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Small Business Administration with individuals affected by the global Covid-19 Pandemic, as a prosecutor for the King County Prosecuting Attorney Office, and as a Deputy Public Defender for the State of Hawaii.
Austin has a passion for helping the public and in his off-time volunteers at various organizations either utilizing his legal experience or helping cook/clean at various shelters. In his spare time, Austin enjoys traveling, fishing, eating, surfing, water sports, playing video games, and playing with his dog Kailani, as well as flying and sailing.
Approach to Cases
When Austin is assigned your case his response time is typically the day of or the next day. Before contacting you Austin researches the facts of your case to determine the Cause of Action and understand as much as he can about your legal situation. Austin will then contact you by phone for an initial meeting during which he will tell you a little bit about himself, go over some agreements that establish the Attorney Client relationship, go over the case and make a plan. You will typically receive a follow up email from Austin outlining what was discussed. Austin works primarily from home and most of his communication with you will be via email. Austin will schedule phone meetings with you as needed and prior to hearings to help you prepare and send you updates about your case via email. On the day of your hearing Austin will appear in court with you.
Bar Admissions/Court Admissions
Hawaii (2013)
Washington (2018)
U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii
Education
J.D., Western Michigan University: Cooley Law School (2012)
B.A. (History), Harding University (2008)
Honors/Awards
State of Hawaii, House of Representatives Certificate of Recognition
Hawaii Legal Aid Society Certificates (2016, 2017, and 2018)
Hawaii Legal Aid Society Certificates (2016, 2017, and 2018)
