Stella Rabaut, M.A., J.D.

Retired Attorney at Law

Stella Rabaut practiced law in corporate settings and private practice in Texas and Washington for over 25 years. During that time, she practiced as a sole practitioner, in-house counsel for an oil and gas company, and general counsel for a non-profit institution of higher education.

She served as chair of the Washington State Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and as an officer on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. She headed up the Division of Committees of the Texas Bar Association that dealt with the public while chairing the Public Affairs Committee and the Citizen’s Legal Education Committee. She is a life fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation. Stella also served as president of the Houston Association of Women Attorneys.

Ms. Rabaut has consulted with the Fetzer Institute on its Healing and the Law Project and has facilitated retreats for lawyers and judges in various settings, including the Whidbey Institute. She taught at the Leadership Institute of Seattle, where she also served on the board of directors. She was adjunct faculty at Seattle University Law School, where she designed and taught a course titled, “Transforming the Legal Profession: Emerging Trends in the Practice of Law.” She was a frequent presenter for King County Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, and Seattle University Law School continuing legal education programs.

Her particular interest is in sustaining the human spirit and well being while practicing law. Most recently she has focused on the challenge of civility in the context of the legal profession. Ms. Rabaut has been instrumental in helping to develop the vision and implementation of the Civility Center's initiatives to promote civility within the profession.