“Learning about community and public health issues is what drew me to the legal profession. It seemed that many health issues had upstream causes that should be remedied. As an attorney, I help my clients seek solutions for many of these problems.”
Worked as an insurance claims adjuster and a healthcare attorney
Interned as a Rule 9 “Licensed Legal Intern” at two different law practices during law school
Served as Student Coordinator for the Washington State Bar Association Moderate Means Program
Attorney Irena Pia
Irena Pia joined the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in 2022, bringing with her a background in healthcare, insurance, and law.
A West Coast Upbringing
Irena grew up in Oregon as the middle of five children. Her father, the Director of International Services at a university, and her mother, a physical therapist specializing in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, instilled in her a desire to have a positive impact on others. Irena gained an appreciation for other cultures from her father, and she learned how to show empathy and patience when dealing with others from her mother. She calls on these traits and strives to be a positive, knowledgeable, and comforting presence in all her client interactions.
An Interest in Healthcare
Irena attended Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington where she earned a B.S. in Health Science with a minor in Psychology. Always open to opportunities to deepen her college experience, she ran cross country and track her freshmen year, completed a certified nursing assistant (CNA) program the summer prior to her sophomore year, and worked as a developmental psychology teaching assistant her junior year.
The summer before her senior year, Irena demonstrated her grit and endurance as a deckhand on a fishing boat, working 17 hour shifts at sea. During her senior year, she worked part-time at a local care center as a certified nursing assistant responsible for overseeing the care of 20+ patients.
A Desire to Help Others Leads to Law
When Irena came to this realization, her first step was to take a position as a claims representative at an insurance company while studying for the LSAT and applying to law school. She earned her insurance adjuster license and gained valuable insight into the mindset and motivation of “the other side” during this time.
She attended Gonzaga University School of Law, serving as a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and as a student coordinator of the Washington State Bar Association’s Moderate Means Program (MMP) which helps moderate income individuals obtain low cost legal services. At MMP, she interviewed clients, prepared case summaries, trained new students, and connected clients with attorneys.
During law school, Irena interned with Spokane County Superior Court Judge Bjelkengren and witnessed firsthand how to balance compassion and the law. She remembers the judge as being firm and knowledgeable, but kind, when dealing with individuals in court. After that internship, Irena earned the position of a Rule 9 “Licensed Legal Intern” for an elder law clinic and a personal injury and criminal law firm, where she was able to practice law under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
Finding Her Way to Farrin
After graduation, Irena served as an in-house healthcare attorney and appeals officer reviewing cases and researching client issues for a worldwide government contractor in health and human services programs. In this position, she drew upon her past experiences as a certified nursing assistant, claims adjuster, and legal intern to work with medical experts to make appeal determinations on denied insurance claims.
Jeremy Maddox, co-lead of the firm’s personal injury department, agrees. “Irena has a high work effort and desire to help individuals – her experience in both the medical and legal field helps her guide clients through complicated medical systems while keeping in mind the impact these decisions could have on their cases. She is also instrumental in coordinating with other attorneys in the firm to help navigate some of the complicated medical issues that arise in their cases.”
Irena’s work history and passion for advocating for others help her objectively analyze medical issues in clients’ cases and fight for justice at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin.
At Home
At home, Irena has recently gotten into “culinary sciences,” such as brewing kombucha and baking bread. She and her husband enjoy the outdoors and foraging for local chanterelles, morels, and huckleberries in the wild. She considers foraging to be “hiking with a purpose” and appreciates how it conditions her to be more aware of her surroundings. Always discerning and thorough, Irena researches her finds thoroughly before eating them!
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For legal reasons and client confidentiality, reviews have been slightly edited to remove identifying information and correct typos.