CWU alum makes statewide impact with Outstanding Young Lawyer award

Austin Neff is making a difference for Washingtonians, one case at a time.

When Neff ('15) ran out of the tunnel with his football teammates during his time at Central Washington University, he didn’t know the path ahead would take him to some of the state’s most prestigious courtrooms.

But today, as a partner at Osborn Machler & Neff in Seattle, he is doing exactly what he set out to do: make a difference for people who need someone to advocate for them.

“My favorite part of practicing law is we get to speak for those who don’t have a voice, and we get to fight for justice,” said Neff, who was recently named the 2024 recipient of the Washington State Bar Association APEX Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. “I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

Neff’s practice focuses on catastrophic injury and civil litigation, and he’s already made a historic impact, winning the largest medical malpractice jury verdict in Lewis County history in the 2023 case of Hamilton v. Hamilton.

His legal career started in the courtroom before he even graduated from law school. As a Rule 9 intern with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Neff began trying cases to juries in his second year. Since then, he has tried nine cases to verdict.

Colleagues describe Neff as someone who brings heart and integrity to every aspect of his work.

“Austin has patience, he has empathy, he cares about his clients, he always does the right thing for his clients, and he is active in his community,” said Simeon Osborn, one of his law firm partners. “He has absolutely been a gem here.”

His dedication extends beyond clients to the next generation of lawyers. As a way of giving back, Neff served as Young Lawyer Co-Chair of the Trial Advocacy Program in 2023 and 2024. In his role, he redesigned the program to include remote participants and even stepped in to argue a mock trial case on short notice, prepping a witness and learning the case in under 24 hours. The trial would not have happened without him, he proudly recalls.

That level of dedication has helped Neff earn the admiration of fellow partner Susan Machler.

“Austin has all the qualities that you want in a young lawyer,” she said. “He is smart and he is excited about being a young lawyer. He really has an understanding of people. He is really confident in the courtroom, and he is very thoughtful when he is speaking and very respectful of everybody.”

Before attending law school at the University of Washington, Neff found his footing at CWU—an experience he wouldn’t trade for anything.

“CWU gave me the opportunity to receive a fantastic education while pursuing my dream of playing college football,” he said. “My experience as a philosophy major taught me how to write at a high level, think critically, and problem solve—all of which built the foundation for my career as an attorney.”

At Central, Neff wasn’t just an athlete; he was also a Douglas Honors College student, a writing tutor in the library, and a Regional Ethics Bowl competitor. And it was in the classroom where his legal expertise began to take shape.

“I really felt that at Central, you're more than a number; you are a student with professors who take an interest in your academic success and are available to talk with you if you have questions,” he said. “You also have small class sizes, and I really appreciated that.”

Neff also enjoyed the connections he made with his peers at CWU. He viewed his writing tutor position as much more than a job. In the end, it gave him a chance to get to know his fellow students. There was one session in particular that will always stick with him.

“There was one time I had a group of students in the library,” he recalled. “The bells rang and typically everybody would take off and go onto their next class, but these kids didn't do that. They stayed. I remember the supervisor of the program coming over and her eyes were just so wide, and she said, ‘Oh my gosh they stayed! They always leave right away! They were so interested!’ I will always remember that. It really showed me that my time meant something to those kids.”

For Neff, finding that kind of connection, whether with students or clients, is what gives him purpose. An opportunity to build lasting relationships with others is one of the main reasons he encourages prospective students to take a serious look at Central.

“If I'm talking to folks who are checking out colleges and they don't mention Central, I always tell them you need to check it out,” he said.

From the field to the courtroom, Neff is one Wildcat who’s showing what it means to lead with purpose and leave a legacy that matters.