Top Best Criminal Defense Lawyers | 14570 Available

Mark Blair grew up in a legal family and inherited an abiding respect and passion for the rule of law. After graduating with honors from Seattle University School of Law, Mark worked as a prosecutor in King, Yakima, and Thurston Counties. He argued hundreds of criminal cases and earned a reputation as an articulate and tenacious prosecutor who was also realistic and fair-minded.. In 1997, Mark decided to cross the aisle to work as a defense attorney on behalf of individuals accused of DUI, domestic violence, property crimes, and other criminal offenses. He made the switch in order to focus more on individual clients. Says Mark, “As a prosecutor, you have hundreds of cases. As a defense attorney, you have one client—and that case gets your entire focus.”. Hard work, fact finding and legal insight can change a prosecutor’s mind. Mark knows that his experience as a prosecutor works to his clients’ advantage. “It’s all about understanding your opponents’ mind set,” he explains. Prosecutors base their cases on evidence collected by the police. Their mindset is to convict. Mark believes that the best way for a defense attorney to change the prosecutors mind is by presenting new facts. This can be new evidence, an alternative explanation of how the crime was committed, or a different reading of the law. “You have to respectfully educate the prosecutor. If you present a compelling scenario that’s different than the prosecution originally envisioned, then you can negotiate a more appropriate charge—either a reduction or outright dismissal.”. Of course, obtaining new evidence or developing an alternative legal theory comes from hard work. As a defense attorney, Mark is able to focus on each individual client—not a boatload of cases—and thus outwork the prosecution. If the case goes to trial, the focus shifts to persuading a judge or jury. Here, Mark is articulate and thinks on his feet. But the results come from superior preparation. Says Mark, “I will always argue my client’s defense to the utmost. I find a way to do it with respect—for the judge, the jury and our legal system.”

I am the Managing Attorney of McLaren Law Group.  MLG is a boutique law firm specializing in DUI and personal injury; including injuries sustained from motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents and slip and fall accidents.. My goal is to aggressively and intelligently work on behalf of any client who has been injured due to the careless and negligent acts of others or who has been charged with DUI or other criminal misdemeanor in Washington State.  I am commited to providing every client with the justice and outcome they deserve and every personal injury client with the compensation that they deserve.  Please call for a free consulation 24/7.. Thank you.

I specialize in helping people out with their tough legal problems.

I am a navy veteran and a graduate of Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall). For 30 years I have successfully fought for my clients at every court level in Washington, from municipal court to the Washington State Supreme Court. During this time, I have come to embrace certain ideals. I do not pick needless fights, I treat my opponents with respect, and I do not back down from a necessary fight. I adhere to the old Roman adage, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” To attain a favorable settlement, you must always prepare the case for trial. I take the time to fully understand and investigate each client’s story so that a favorable settlement can be reached, or a jury trial won. I apply these principles at Dixon & Cannon, Ltd., where I focus upon criminal defense, personal injury, and appeals

After starting out as a counselor in my home state of Michigan I moved to Seattle, decided a career path was in order, and enrolled in law school.  My first job as an intern lawyer was in a legal clinic in the inner city of Detroit.  After my second year of school I switched sides and interned at the King County Prosecutor's Office.  I accepted a job there in 1980 as a deputy prosecutor after graduating from law school and passing the bar.  After six years at the prosecutor's office I accepted a position with the Attorney General directing investigation and prosecutions of white collar, fraud and other, high impact, crimes occuring throughout Washington State.  In 1996 I began my private practice.  I have focused on criminal defense and civil actions against city, county and state agencies.  All tolled, I have handled over 200 jury trials.  Along the way, I taught a number of courses for 16 years at the University of Washington, including one involving forensic sciences that was a particular favorite.. There are a number of means for measuring a lawyer's effectivness.  Client's typically don't understand the law, how it operates, or even what is about to happen to them.  Nor do client's normally have the knowledge necessary to make judgments on who to trust.  The one opportunity a client does have is to talk to a lawyer being considered for representation.  Does the lawyer take the time to talk; do they listen, can they explain in ways that make sense what is happening, why it is happening, and what is likely to happen.  Can the lawyer teach the client what the client needs to know before making decisions that will alter the course of their life.. Working with juries, teaching them about the law and what they need to know to arrive at a just verdict in my client's favor, is the essence of a lawyer's work in trial.  In one way or another, from the time I practiced therapy to my work with victims, witnesses and clients, and on to my time teaching at UW, I have been a teacher.. My job - either as a prosecutor, defense attorney or civil practioner representing people harmed by the government - has been to help people.  My job is not to ask my client's for their help - and I have resisted the requests of marketing gurus to solicit "testimonials" from my previous clients.  It simply strikes me as unprofessional and a line I won't cross.  The marketing gurus have advised that someone needs to vouch for me in my profile, so I have chosen to reach out to a few friends in the business to offer their opinions to you- the consumer.. But don't take their word for anything.  Call me; talk to me about your case.  It's free - and it will give you the chance to make a decision for yourself if I am the attorney to help you through the crisis you now face.

Born and raised in King County, Amanda has had a passion for helping people from a young age. After graduating from the University of Portland in 2014 with a B.A. in English and Communication Studies, she attended The George Washington University Law School, graduating with honors in 2017. During law school, Amanda delved into the field of criminal justice, taking courses and working in the field. She had internships in the Felony and Major Crime Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. She also worked in both criminal and civil domestic violence, interning as a Criminal Domestic Violence Judicial Clerk for the District of Columbia Superior Court and at the Legal Aid Society.. After law school, Amanda moved to New York and worked as a prosecutor at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. While in the Bronx, Amanda specialized in juvenile prosecution with a focus on gang investigations as well as adult prosecution. Her cases ranged from DUIs and simple assault cases to felony robberies, burglaries, assaults, and attempted murders. After spending three years as a prosecutor, Amanda found that her passion for criminal justice was better suited to being a defense attorney. She joined Puget Law Group in September 2020.. Having been a prosecutor before, Amanda has seen firsthand the difficulties and injustices that people go through in the criminal justice system. She believes in fighting passionately for her clients and ensuring that the rights afforded to the accused by the Constitution are a reality in every case.. When she is not practicing law, Amanda enjoys baking, reading, playing golf, hiking, and spending time with her rescue dog, Luna.

Jacqueline Walsh is a partner with Walsh & Larranaga. She is licensed to practice in Washington and California. Her law practice focuses on criminal defense and civil plaintiff personal injury cases. In her criminal practice, she is qualified to handle capital cases at the trial level in federal and Washington State courts. In addition to capital defense work, Jacqueline has tried several non-capital homicide trials obtaining favorable results for her clients. In 2014, she was added as resource counsel with the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel Project.. In her civil practice, she represents clients in serious catastrophic injury cases - including traumatic brain injuries - and civil rights cases.

Leah Altaras was born in Los Angeles and raised in South King County. She is the second oldest of her parents' eight children. Her father worked as a janitor, and her mother worked as a full time parent. Ms. Altaras attended Seattle Christian School on scholarship, graduating in 1997. She then attended the University of Washington, graduating in 2002 with bachelor’s degrees in both Journalism and American Ethnic Studies. In 2004, she returned to her Alma Matterfor law school. During law school, she participated in moot court and was writer and editor for the Schidler Technology Law Journal as well as the Vice President of Student Programming for the Student Bar Association. She was involved in the Latino Law Student Association as well as the Jewish Law Student Association. She also served as a Rule 9 Intern for both the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the City of Seattle Attorney’s Office, and also worked as an Infraction Hearing Officer for the University of Washington Police Department. During her internship with King County, she worked in the Fraud Unit, prosecuting misdemeanor crimes with a focus on Unregistered Contractors and Department of Fish and Wildlife Offenses. She prosecuted all manner of civil infractions, including traffic and animal control offenses, for the City of Seattle.. Ms. Altaras graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2007. On admission to the bar, Ms. Altaras transitioned from intern to Prosecuting Attorney for King County, and worked as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 2007 through 2012. In that capacity, Ms. Altaras litigated hundreds of criminal cases from misdemeanors to serious violent felonies. In the course of her work, she prosecuted many jury trials in both District and Superior Courts. She also practiced appellate work in both King County Superior Court and Division I Washington Appellate Court. Since she began her practice in 2012, after leaving the Prosecutor's Office, Ms. Altaras has defended and resolved all levels of criminal offenses, from simple misdemeanors to third strike cases. She has expanded her practice to include civil rights defense in the employment and criminal justice arenas, and has sued the government for discrimination and excessive use of force. She also practices family law, specializing in high conflict child custody battles.. Ms. Altaras is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, who recently recognized Ms. Altaras as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in Washington State based upon client satisfaction. She is a former board member, chair of the Criminal Law Section, and member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the King County Washington Women Lawyers Association. She is dedicated to serving her community and has advised Seattle mayors Nickels and McGinn as a member of the Citizen’s Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee and the Technology Matching Fund Grant Review Committee. She has also served as a judge for Mock Trial Competitions at both the Seattle University School of Law and the University of Washington School of Law.

My belief is that people should neither suffer injustice nor be defined by their missteps.   As a result, I strive to form relationships with my clients based on the mutual respect, honesty and trust that will allow us to effectively and confidently confront the challenges ahead.. I understand the personal toll that a criminal allegation can take on individuals and their families, so I treat my clients with the concern and respect they deserve while working diligently to protect their rights and interests.  I consider all potential impacts to my clients and effectively pursue the best possible outcome in each of their cases.. My breadth of experience as a criminal defense attorney, my depth of knowledge of the law, my skill as a negotiator and a litigator, and my compassion for people caught up in the criminal justice system are the considerable strengths I bring to my representation of every client.

Robert H. Chavez was born in Los Angeles, California. After graduation from high school in Pasco, Washington, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served with 1st Battlaion, 75th Ranger Regiment and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He later obtained Bachelor of Arts Degrees in History and in Psychology in 1999 from the University of Washington. In 2002, he obtained a Juris Doctorate Degree from the Seattle University School of Law. He practices primarily in the criminal law and personal injury areas. He is admitted to practice in the State of Washington, the Eastern and Western Districts of the State of Washington and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Mr. Joyce is here to help you through your criminal law or immigration matter.. Mr. Joyce served as a Commissioner and former Co-Chair on the Seattle LGBT Commission. He is committed to advocating for the rights of all clients and understands the special issues faced by LGBTQ clients.. He has also provided representation to clients facing the criminal law consequences of protests and civil disobedience.