Joel Hathaway Paget

Born in Seattle, Washington on March 21, 1945. Joel is survived by his wife and daughters Helen Ho Paget, Justice and Liberty Paget of Mission Viejo, California, daughter, Dene’ Joubert (Allan Joubert) of Hayden, Idaho and son, Jeremy Paget (Carrie Paget) of Issaquah, Washington and his grandchildren, Lily Joubert, Nadine Joubert, Jace Paget & Hadley Paget as well as many nephews, nieces and their families. He was preceded in death by his brother, David Paget and parents John and Ruth Paget.

Joel grew up in South Seattle and graduated from Mt. Rainier High School. During high school he was involved with DECA and became Treasurer for the state-wide DECA of Washington which earned him a trip to Chicago for the national convention. With no money for sports and activities, his parents encouraged their boys to get jobs early on in life. During jr. high and high school he worked as a paper carrier for the Seattle Times and part time for Safeway as a box boy and then later as a grocery stocker, dairy products assistant and produce assistant. 

After high school, Joel attended Seattle Pacific College majoring in business and economics. He served as Treasurer for the Young Republican Club; Political Affairs Committee Chair which oversaw both the Republican and Democrat clubs on campus and Intercollegiate Affairs Committee Chair which allowed him to organize a breakfast meeting with Governor Dan Evans at his house in Olympia for the student body presidents from all the public and private colleges and universities in the State of Washington. He also served as Co-Chair of the 75th Diamond Homecoming Committee.

In 1966, his senior year he was elected Student Body President and decided being a politician with a business career on the side would be interesting. On a whim he took the LSAT and was accepted into the University of Washington School of Law in 1967. After three years of law school and a position as a law clerk under Judge Swanson on the US Court of Appeals in 1970-71 he knew he wanted to be a lawyer and was hired by Ryan, Carlson, Bush, Swanson and Hendel law firm in 1971 focusing on estate planning and business law. He was the 14th attorney in the firm at the time of his arrival and spent his entire career at the firm until his death.

During his time at SPC, he met and married Lorilee Nyholm until their divorce 40 years later. As a dad to Dene’ and Jeremy, he was actively involved in the PTA and made an effort to be in attendance at their games and performances.

In 1970, he was elected to the Board of Trustees at Seattle Pacific College, now Seattle Pacific University and the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association. Before the age of 25, Joel also served as Chairman of the Inter-Agency and Funding Committee on the Seattle-King County Drug Commission, College Lecturer of Business Law at SPU, Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, WA, Secretary of CHECC (Choose an Effective City Council), Chaplain and Former Director of Governmental Affairs of the Seattle Jaycees, Secretary of the Seattle Chapter of Christian Legal Society, Precinct Committeeman of Redmond No. 16.

Joel went on to become an Elder at Westminster Chapel and also a Sunday School teacher to over 1,000 high school students over a 30-year period as well as being a mentor in discipleship groups to high school Senior boys. 

During this time, he also served as a member of the Seattle Pacific University Board of Trustees and a member of the Executive committee as well as Boards for the SPU Foundation and the SPU Alumni Association. He was also incoming Chair of the Taxation Section for the Washington State Bar Association and served on the SAMBICA board and Westminster Chapel Foundation. 

The immigration practice at Ryan Swanson began with Joel in 1982. Today, Ryan Swanson’s Immigration Group is one of the largest and most prestigious in Seattle. Joel held various leadership roles at the firm, including chair of the Immigration Group for many years. He served as the firm’s managing director from 1993 to 1996, during which time he implemented the firm’s sabbatical benefit for staff.

Joel was a dedicated mentor, not only to the firm’s young attorneys but also to the wider legal community. He frequently made time in his busy schedule to meet with law students and young lawyers over a mocha, offering advice and support as they began their legal journeys.

A mentee described him as, “Preeminent lawyer, strategic thinker, passionate advocate, well-respected leader and citizen ambassador, empowering mentor, well-rounded and practical businessman, strong networker, articulate speaker, fun-loving teacher, compassionate friend, community steward, courageous cancer survivor and more.”

Throughout his career, Joel was deeply involved with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), dedicating significant time and energy to the organization. He was a founding member of the Washington Chapter of AILA and actively participated in AILA at both the national and regional levels. He served on AILA’s Congressional/Advocacy Committee and the AILA Chapter CLE Committee, and regularly attended the annual AILA National Day of Action in Washington, D.C. In recent years, he also provided valuable support to the AILA Southern California chapter in various ways.

He volunteered for the King County Immigration Legal Clinic for 20+ years. And spent dozens of pro bono hours supporting his family and friends’ various human rights and social justice projects and the people/communities they served.

In 1991, Joel was named one of Washington State’s top four immigration lawyers and was listed in the 1991-92 edition of The Best Lawyers of America. Throughout his career he received numerous awards and accolades.

Joel was critical in forging relationships with the Canadian consulate and served as President of the Canada-America Society of Washington. He also maintained close relationships with clients and referral sources in Canada, making regular trips to visit them—a practice he began in his early days at the firm with Ray Swanson. These clients became more than just business connections; they became friends.

In 2009, Joel married Helen Ho, several months after coming out of cancer treatment and moved to Mission Viejo, California to find the sun while continuing to work as an attorney in Seattle, Washington. This union lead to his decade-long involvement with the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington.

During his later years, Joel was a proud member of the Seattle Rotary #4 and volunteered within the community with the King County Bar Association neighborhood clinic and at citizenship days. 

In recent years, Joel continued to serve his community by joining the Board of Directors for the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington.

With the arrival of his daughters Justice and Liberty, he once again found himself serving on the local PTA Board. His last words to Justice before he left for Seattle were his prayers to her. He prayed for her campaign and she won the position of Vice President at her school. 

For those fortunate enough to know him, Joel was known for his love of roller coasters, travel, water and snow skiing, driving the ski boat, pickleball, basketball, jokes, pranks, having fun, UW Huskies, cosmopolitans and his unique habit of asking people, “Where did you go to school in third grade?” He took great pride in describing his work as helping “the best and brightest come into the United States to live and work. He died after spending the day with his son at the Seahawks game. He loved being a season ticket holder.

On a deeper level, Joel loved to give and give anonymously. He was known to sign checks from Praise T. Lord. He was always willing to lend his expertise and talents whenever possible. In honor of Joel, we encourage you to give back as well. 

A memorial service in honor of Joel will be held at Rose Hill Church on November 2, at 11:00 a.m. at 12202 NE 90th Street, Kirkland, WA 98033. The service will also be streamed online at https://rosehill.church/joelpaget.