Cheryl L Van Ackeren

Cheryl L Van Ackeren is a passionate attorney in Puyallup, Washington, focused on protecting the rights of service members and veterans. Her commitment to the legal profession was evident long before she graduated from Seattle University’s School of Law. At 18, Cheryl enlisted in the Army, aiming to become an officer through the 'green to gold' program and ultimately serve as a Judge Advocate General. Her military career started in the signal corps with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, including a 15-month deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unfortunately, her service ended after nearly four years due to an injury that led to a medical discharge, preventing her from becoming a JAG officer.

Undeterred, Cheryl transitioned to civilian life and pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology before attending law school. During her time at Seattle University, Cheryl's dedication to veterans' advocacy was clear. Beginning in May 2011, she interned at Swift & McDonald, PS, a firm specializing in military and family law for service members. Her responsibilities included handling Board of Corrections cases, court-martials, administrative separations, appeals against nonjudicial punishments, Letters of Reprimand, and security clearance issues, alongside family law cases like divorce and child custody.

Cheryl further honed her expertise at the Northwest Justice Project, Veterans Division, where she provided legal assistance to homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness. Her relentless dedication and work ethic enabled her to balance her roles at Swift & McDonald, PS, and the Northwest Justice Project while completing her studies, leading to her eventual position as an associate after graduation.