• BA degree from The Ohio State University in 1971
• JD degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 197

• Washington State Bar Association (President, 2010-2011, President-elect, 2009-2010, Governor, 8th district, Board of Governors, 1993-1996, Member, BOG Alumni Group, 2002-2005, WSTLA/WSAJ Liaison to WSBA BOG, 2003-2009, Member of Board of Judicial Administration, ex-officio, 2010-2011
• King County Bar Association (Past member, Judicial Screening Committee for Superior and Appellate Courts, Past chair, Judicial Screening Committee for District and Municipal Courts)
• East King County Bar Association (Secretary of Board of Trustees, 1988-1991, Vice-President, 1991-1992,  President, 1992-1993)
• Washington State Association for Justice (formerly Washington State Trial Lawyers Association) (President, 2002-2003, President-elect, 2001-2002, Immediate past-president, 2003-2004, Judicial Liaison Planning Committee, 1988-1990, Chair, East King County Roundtable, 1990-1991, Member, Board of Governors, 1991-1994; 1996-2009, Chair, History Committee, 1991-1992, Public Affairs Committee, 1991-1992; 1997-2002, Development Committee, 1992-1994; 1996-2009, Long Rang Planning Committee, 1993-1994; 2001-2002, Long Range Planning Task Force, 2002-2004, Diversity Task Force, 1996-1997; 2001-2002 (Chair); 2008-2009, Building Purchase Committee, 1996-1997, Legislative Steering Committee, 1996-2009 - Second vice-president, 1997-1999 - Vice-president, 1999-2000, Executive Committee, 1999-2000; 2001-2004, Judicial Relations Committee, 2000-2002 - Vice-president, 2000-2001, Nominations Committee, 2001-2005 (Chair, 2001-2002), Membership Committee, 2001-2002, Amicus Committee, 2001-2002, Awards Committee, 2001-2003, Finance Committee, 2002-2003, CR 35 Task Force, 2002-2003, Law Day Committee, 2003-2004, WSBA Liaison, 2003-2009, Board of Governors-Past Presidents’ Counsel, 2004-2009, List Serve Task Force (Chair), 2004-2005
• American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) (Presidents' Council, 2001-2004)
• National Conference of Bar Presidents, (Member of Executive Council, 2011-2014, Member of Diversity, Sponsorship and Program Committees)

Steve Toole has been conducting mediations for over 17 years.  His practice is now limited to serving as a Neutral in both Mediations and Arbitrations.  He has completed formal mediation training through the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University School of Law and has attended numerous other Alternative Dispute Resolution CLE seminars and conferences. Steve conducts the typical half day and full day mediations but will also tailor the length and format of the mediation to suit the needs of the parties, including conducting telephone mediations.

As a mediator, Steve is regularly used by all the major insurance carriers and can provide references on both the plaintiff and defense side. He mediates all types of tort cases, including automobile, premises liability, professional negligence, employment discrimination and timber trespass. He has also mediated cases involving boundary disputes, breach of contracts and partnership dissolutions. If Steve is not familiar with a particular area of law, he will do the necessary research on his own time so that he can best be prepared to assist the parties in resolving their dispute. If the case does not get settled at the initial mediation hearing, Steve frequently continues working with the parties days and even weeks later, in a committed effort to do everything possible to try to resolve the matter.