MEET Amanda Cook
Education
Amanda earned her Juris Doctor in 2003 from Oak Brook College of Law in Fresno, California. A keen observer may notice that Alliance Law Group attorney Dan Cook graduated from the same law school that same year—yes, they were classmates who quietly competed for top exam scores and ultimately trauma-bonded while surviving the California Bar Exam together.
Amanda Cook
Experience
Amanda has been practicing since 2005, handling hundreds of family law cases, including high net worth divorce, complex property division for unmarried couples, high-conflict custody disputes, and challenging child relocation matters. She has built a reputation as a pragmatic attorney—resistant to unnecessary drama, yet a formidable courtroom advocate when litigation becomes necessary.
Today, Amanda’s practice is primarily focused on alternative dispute resolution. She assists her own clients through divorce using the collaborative law model and acts as a mediator to help other families resolve disputes outside of court.
Amanda has been recognized by Super Lawyers annually since 2017 and is highly rated in online legal directories. She regularly presents continuing legal education programs for attorneys and mediators. She is a past president and current trustee of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association Family Law Section and serves on the executive board of Collaborative Law Professionals of Pierce County.
Amanda has also served as a Pro Tem Court Commissioner for Pierce County Superior Court since 2012.
Practices
- Mediation / Arbitration Services
- Collaborative Law Divorce
- Division of Retirement Assets (e.g., QDROs and equivalent court orders)
PRACTICE STYLES
Amanda believes the end goal of every family law case as a “successful family reorganization.” In practice, this means her clients are fully informed and empowered to make thoughtful decisions, resulting in durable resolutions that minimize future conflict.
She believes effective representation begins with a clear understanding of each client’s highest priorities. From there, she provides practical guidance tailored to solutions that genuinely make sense for their lives. Amanda communicates in a direct, approachable manner and does not hesitate to offer candid assessments of both the strengths and weaknesses of a case—even when the message may be difficult to hear.
As a mediator, Amanda approaches each matter with the expectation that resolution is achievable when both parties participate in good faith. Drawing on her experience as both an advocate and a neutral Pro Tem Court Commissioner, she offers balanced, objective insight. She is particularly motivated by helping parties reach agreements that preserve their control over outcomes while avoiding the stress and expense of prolonged litigation.
AFTER FIVE
Eventually, Amanda leaves the office and heads home to Dan Cook, two dogs, and a rotating cast of their three children. Outside of work, she enjoys van life—whether off the grid in the Olympics or parked at the base of a ski resort. She channels her creative side through painting, her Cricut, and other projects. Amanda also enjoys live theater and is an avid and enthusiastic (i.e., loud) “12.”