Avery Tunstill is a summer law clerk at Barran Liebman who is currently completing her J.D. at the University of Washington School of Law. As a law clerk, Avery supports attorneys with legal research, drafting, litigation preparation, developing employment policies, and crafting materials for client trainings.

Avery is the current Associate Editor-In-Chief of the Washington Law Review, Washington’s flagship legal publication. She works with legal scholars, current judges, and practitioners to develop high-quality scholarship for publication.

During law school, Avery served as an extern for Justice Gordon McCloud at the Washington State Supreme Court. She was responsible for conducting research and drafting memorandums related to cases before the court, presenting orally on cases, and supporting the chamber’s work.

Prior to law school, Avery pursued her undergraduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago, graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Economics and History. She returned to her hometown of Portland following graduation and worked as a paralegal at a local firm.

Avery was born and raised in Portland and is excited to return to her hometown. In her free time, she enjoys the Portland food and wine scene, crafting, and hiking with her dogs.

Representative Matters

• Developed strategic advice regarding Washington non-compete and non-solicitation agreements

• Drafted independent contractor agreements for a medical practice

• Prepared seminar regarding pay equity compliance

• Prepared internal training for a national company regarding drug-testing policy

Professional Experience & Affiliations

• Extern, Justice Gordon McCloud, Washington State Supreme Court (Spring 2025)

• Summer Law Clerk, Seattle-based firm (Summer 2024)

• Paralegal, Portland firm (2020-2023)

• Writing Tutor and Copy Editor, DePaul University Writing Center (2019-2022)

• Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society

Representative Publications

• “U.S. Supreme Court Weighs in on Burden of Proof for Non-Minority Plaintiffs,” Barran Liebman Electronic Alert, July 9, 2025

• “Pregnancy Accommodation Rules: Big Changes Ahead for Washington,” Oregon Business Report, July 7, 2025

• “It’s warming up out there: heed heat and smoke rules,” Daily Journal of Commerce, June 26, 2025

• “Pregnancy Accommodation Obligations: Big Changes Ahead for Washington Employers,” Barran Liebman Electronic Alert, June 26, 2025

• Student Comment: The Reasonability Rule for Medical Damages in Tort: In Defense of Chargemaster Rates, Washington Law Review, 100th Volume (Forthcoming, December 2025)

Honors

• Vincentian Spirit Award: Political Science Department of DePaul University (Spring 2022)