Profile / Danijela Krecar: Championing Foreign-Trained Lawyers in Washington
By Valerie Chelobitchenko, Bar Bulletin Committee Member
Danijela Krecar brings a global perspective to her role as an in-house attorney at Monolithic Power Systems, where she supports the business on a wide range of commercial agreements and transactions. Her practice includes advising on an array of matters such as employment law, corporate governance, data privacy, and artificial intelligence. She also supports international transactions in collaboration with outside counsel across Europe.
Originally from Serbia, Danijela began her legal career in civil litigation before relocating to the United States. After completing a paralegal program, she worked as a paralegal and later advanced to lead a team of paralegals at a law firm. That experience helped her develop strong practical judgment, operational insight, and a collaborative working style that she brings to her in-house practice.
Charting the Course
Danijela was assistant director of academic success at the University of Washington School of Law immediately after graduating from the J.D. program, where she supported law students in their academic and professional development. She later transitioned into in-house practice, leveraging her foreign legal background and prior professional experience.
Danijela is licensed to practice law in Washington, New York, and New Jersey. She earned both her J.D. and LL.M. from the University of Washington School of Law and holds a law degree from the University of Kragujevac in Serbia.
During law school, she received the Academic Excellence Award and three CALI Awards in Constitutional Law I, Constitutional Law Equal Protection, and Contracts. She was named a Global Business Law Fellow, served as an Academic Success Fellow, worked as a research assistant, and participated in the Mediation Law Clinic and advanced mediation training, learning skills she continues to draw on during negotiations.
Shared Purpose
Danijela remains actively involved in the legal community and supports several organizations. She serves on the board of directors for the Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, mentors students at the University of Washington Global Business Law Institute, and provides pro bono legal assistance to small businesses through Communities Rise. “Meaningful community engagement starts with a genuine belief in the work being done,” she said. “I’m passionate about each of these organizations, and that passion fuels my commitment.”
That commitment extends to mentoring and offering practical guidance to foreign-trained attorneys. “Navigating the U.S. legal system is challenging, even for those who grew up here,” she said.
“If you have already earned a law degree and practiced in your home country and are willing to do it again here in a different language, that alone shows incredible dedication. Your skills are transferable. Do not underestimate the value of your prior experience. Most importantly, stay true to who you are. Your cultural insight matters, and your unique perspective adds value to any legal team.”
Her international background and firsthand experience with the challenges foreign-trained lawyers face inspired Danijela to co-found the Foreign Trained Lawyer Association of Washington. “The legal profession is one of the most traditional fields and is often resistant to change and nontraditional career paths,” she said. “While completing my LL.M. and J.D. at UW Law, I met many highly skilled foreign-
trained lawyers who faced similar challenges entering the Seattle legal market despite their extensive experience and global perspectives. Language barriers and limited awareness of the LL.M. to bar pipeline made it even harder to gain traction.
“We started FTLAW to build community, raise awareness, and support foreign-trained attorneys through mentorship, networking, and professional development.”
Life in Full
Outside the office, Danijela values balance. She enjoys cooking, meditation, and travel and is fluent in English, Serbian, and Spanish. Two recent family trips to Japan and Greece stand out. Japan offered active exploration, rich history, and memorable food, while Greece provided relaxed summer islands and warm hospitality.
Whether she is negotiating a contract, mentoring a law student, or organizing a community event, Danijela says the through line of her work is the same: showing up, sharing her expertise, and helping others find their footing. “Saying yes, even when something feels unfamiliar,” she said, “has consistently led to connection, growth, and impact beyond what I could have imagined.”
Valerie Chelobitchenko is a transactional attorney working on reinsurance contracts and MGA arrangements. She served as communications chair of the King County Washington Women Lawyers Association for two years and later transitioned to the Bar Bulletin. Valerie met Danijela through their mutual professor, Carrie Sanford, who prepared them for the Uniform Bar Exam at the University of Washington School of Law.
“If you have already earned a law degree and practiced in your home country and are willing to do it again here in a different language, that alone shows incredible dedication. Your skills are transferable. Do not underestimate the value of your prior experience.”
– Danijela Krecar
