In her practice, Rachel Parkin emphasizes a commitment to open dialogue and diligent analysis. She believes that advocacy starts with understanding. Not every client defines success in the same way, so early and frank conversations regarding goals are critical to obtaining a favorable outcome. Understanding the legal, factual, and even emotional parameters of the legal issues her clients encounter enables Rachel to effectively drive cases toward satisfactory resolution. Through her background in academia, she has developed the exceptional research, composition, and communication skills necessary to successfully handle complex legal issues through all phases of litigation, and to reconcile legal issues with her clients’ goals.
Rachel’s practice focuses primarily on insurance defense and coverage analysis. She is well-versed in the nuances of Montana’s unique insurance landscape, and has represented institutional clients in bad faith cases and administrative proceedings before the Insurance Commissioner. Much of her defense work has been in construction litigation, including construction defects, liens, and home inspector professional liability. She also frequently advises clients on employment matters and has successfully defended a variety of employment claims both in district court and before administrative agencies, including OSHA, EEOC, and the Montana Human Rights Bureau. Rachel has had cases before the Montana Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has also appeared in several tribal courts in Montana.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Rachel is committed to serving the Missoula community. She facilitates a weekly writers’ critique group for the Missoula Public Library, and serves on the Board of Directors for both A Carousel for Missoula and the Western Montana Bar Association.
In a previous life, Rachel taught classes on children’s literature at a university, worked as an education ambassador at a zoo, served as a trail guide on horseback in Rocky Mountain National Park, and spent time as a librarian. Rachel enjoys getting lost — lost with her dog in Montana’s backcountry; lost in a good book; or lost in her thoughts on a long run. She owns more than 20 different illustrated versions of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and has strong feelings about the use of Oxford commas.
