Michael T. Suh

Michael Suh has dedicated his life’s work to advocating for those who do not have the platform to speak or advocate for themselves. He is a dedicated practitioner committed to using every legal means available to achieve justice for clients who have been harmed and abused by schools, group homes, scouting organizations, churches, and other entities. Michael combines his technical legal skills with his background in the education system to provide his clients with effective yet empathetic advocacy.

He emphasizes that an individual’s childhood is critical to their development and success in both their professional and social lives. Children are like sponges and constantly learn and absorb experiences from the way they are raised and this ultimately shapes their path and development as individuals. Michael advocates to honor and preserve every client’s childhood for their unique challenges and patiently learns each client’s story because he believes true advocacy starts with building strong relationships. Above all, he believes that an individual’s childhood should be protected and preserved to allow each person the opportunity to thrive creatively and reach their full potential.

Michael’s personal experiences as a son of Asian immigrants have instilled a strong sense of value in advocating for those who often are overlooked and underestimated. Growing up in a bi-lingual household, he routinely helped his parents and grandmother overcome language barriers and challenging legal or business matters unique to immigrants chasing their dreams in a foreign country. This part of his life instilled a strong sense of purpose, both to stand for minority groups but also to advocate for strong family dynamics in a household. Michael has experienced firsthand how strong parenting and a loving home can help an individual’s personality and success blossom. He is a living testament that an individual’s future is largely shaped by their childhood as he has experienced love and support from his family and friends since birth. He would not be the advocate he is today without the unconditional love and support of his family and friends.

Central to the success of his cases is his ability to build trust and rapport by approaching client interactions with honesty and thoroughness. An active listener, Michael ensures his clients’ experiences and challenges are acknowledged and respected. He translates complex legal concepts into digestible terms and uses all available resources and tools to support client cases. He particularly appreciates the team-oriented culture at PCVA, where collaboration and mutual support are fundamental.

Michael remains active in the Asian-American community and works to support the future Asian-American and minority leaders. He is a former board member of the Paull Shin Leadership Foundation, which supports future Asian-American leaders through educational scholarships and increased access to justice and leadership roles. Michael is also a proud board member and part-time coach of Seattle’s local No Limits Academy (NLA) basketball nonprofit organization. NLA is dedicated to combining youth sports with valuable life lessons and strong academic success in school. NLA challenges gifted youth athletes to consider how their family’s love and support has allowed them to thrive both athletically and academically.