At Ballard High School Chuck was an All City Athlete in football, track and basketball. He was voted the Seattle Youth of the Year as a scholar and athlete. He attended Stanford University on an academic and athletic scholarship. A shoulder injury ended his football career at Stanford and Mullavey returned to Ballard. He finished college at the University of Washington and went on to graduate from University of Washington School of Law.

By the time Mullavey set up his office on Ballard Avenue, he had a family that included three children. To make ends meet, he worked mornings at a sheet metal factory while his mother- in-law volunteered as secretary. In his early years as a lawyer, Mullavey took nearly every case that walked in the door: criminal, divorce, traffic, real estate, bankruptcy, personal njury, collection cases and all manner of litigation. One steady source of income was tax return preparation, which fed into a general estate planning practice, which ultimately resulted in a thriving probate practice. Eventually he had to decide between an office practice and a trial practice - and his probate and business practice won out. Mullavey has developed the largest probate practice of any individual attorney in King County and probably in Washington.

Despite his predominantly Irish heritage in a Scandinavian stronghold, Mullavey has been active in a variety of civic and church organizations in Ballard. He has worked with The Ballard Boys and Girls Club, Ballard YMCA, Ballard Lions Club, Ballard Rotary Club, and Scandinavian Nordic Festival. He has served on the boards of Ballard High School Foundation, Ballard Community Hospital, Olympic Manor Association and The Ballard Elks Club as President.

In 1991, he was named Ballard Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year and in 2006 he was recognized with the Ballard Chamber of Commerce Legend Award. In addition he was honored in the October 2010 issue of the Bar Bulletin with a feature story on his life and career, titled "Probate Legend, Beloved Counselor”.

Characteristically modest about his success, Mullavey attributes it to hard work and his close lifetime ties to the Ballard community. A longtime client summarized Mullavey extraordinary commitment to his clients and his profession as follows: “Chuck is one of the most appreciated and respected professionals in the Northwest. His kindness and special assistance to senior citizens and all those in need emphasize the goodness of this man.”