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Kent W Underwood
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About Kent
Biography
I am here to offer you excellent, aggresive and effective legal representation in your criminal defense, personal injury and other legal matters. I am a successful trial lawyer and negotiator.
In 1987 I received a scholarship to Study Mandarin and eastern philosophy in Taipei, Taiwan.
In 1990 I received my B.A. in Philosophy and in Chinese Studies.
In 1994 I received an M.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis in epistemology, eastern philosophy and the study of religion.
In 1994 I entered law shcool and was an active participant in Moot Court program. In 1997 I recieved the Order of the Barristers award.
In 1996 I participated in the trial advocacy program sponsored by the Washington Defender Association.
In 1997 I graduated from Seattle University School of Law.
In 1998 I opened my office in Tacoma and began taking personal injury and criminal defense cases.
I have been an active participant in many organizations such as Americans United for the Separation of church and State, The Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where I am a co-chair of the rules committee working on eye-witness identification reform.
I am active in our legal system. I have made public comment, submitted research and have made recommendations to the Washington State Bar Association, to both the Washington state House of Representatives and Senate on topics such as medical marijuana, booking photos, eye witness identification, and discovery rules all of which help protect the rights of the innocent and the rights of the accused.
I will vigorously defend your rights whether involved in an accident, injured or are accused of a crime!
Charged With A Crime? Contacted By The Police? Injured In An Accident? Kent W. Underwood Can Help!
A Conviction, Charge Or Investigation Can Have Significant Consequences. Kent W. Underwood Can Help!
Washington has stiff DUI penalties. Kent W. Underwood can help get you the best outcome possible!
Injured in an accident or through someone else's negligence? Kent W. Underwood can help!
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
60%
DUI and DWI
25%
Drug Crime
5%
Personal Injury
5%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
Awards
2017 2016 2015
...
+
2
2012
Licenses
Licensed in Washington for 28 years
State: Washington
Acquired: 1997
No misconduct found
Location
Law Office of Kent W. Underwood, P.S.
705 South 9th Street, Suite 205, Tacoma, WA, 98405
kentunderwoodlaw.com/Online Presence
Other places you can find Kent online.
Kent W Underwood's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
32 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 5 of 32 reviews
Posted by Jamal | December 19, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
The best criminal defense attorney
It's taken me a long time to write this review. Finally free of the year and a half ordeal of fighting serious criminal charges. I want to thank Kent not just for being awesome at his job, but for dealing with me along the way. Facing criminal charges is stressful and having an attorney that's pat...
Posted by Sara | January 02, 2019 | Hired Attorney
Pleasant experience in a tough situation
Working with Kent Underwood was a great experience despite the situation that made me need professional representation. He was concise and realistic with my options and we ultimately got what I wanted. I will be definitely referring all my family and friends to him!
Posted by anonymous | August 27, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Professional and kind
It was an unexpected event that led us to search for an attorney. We hired Kent Underwood and were very happy with our decision. Mr. Underwood was professional and kind in every way. He took the time to explain the legal system to us in terms that we could understand. He provided options and explaine...
Posted by Sarah | December 08, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Kent defended environmental activists in Tacoma
Kent Underwood reached out to me (through another attorney who was involved in our case) after I, along with 5 other activists were arrested for non-violent direct action. We had chained ourselves to construction equipment at the Puget Sound Energy liquid fracked gas plant site in the port of Tacoma....
Posted by Brandon | June 23, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Excellent attorney!
When I first went to Mr. Underwood I wasn't sure I could afford an attorney and I was already on probation with two other cases. I was both nervous and irritated (about the whole situation I was in). Kent assured me that I had a great case and it it be with hiring him. In my head I was thinking "yea ...
Kent W Underwood's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington
Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Excellent attorney and highly recommended as an asset to this community."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Underwood is a skilled and respected member of the legal community. He is a zealous advocate for the rights and interests of his clients."
"I endorse Kent. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"Mr. Underwood and I are members of Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I have had the pleasure of dealing with Mr. Underwood through this organization and I can recommend him without reservation as an excellent and principled attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Kent is an outstanding lawyer. He is known in the criminal defense community for his brief writing and analytical genius. Having personally watched Kent in trial, I can attest to his outstanding trial skills. If you need an attorney to go to the mat for you on a difficult or serious case, Kent is your guy. He is aggressive, brilliant, and passionate about criminal defense."
"Mr. Underwood has the experience and skills to help you out of the bind you are in. I highly recommend him."
"Excellent attorney. Well respected."
"Kent is a strong advocate for his clients. I have practiced in the same courtrooms, firmly believe he will fight for his clients, and that he is a credit to the criminal defense community."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Kent is a tenacious and innovative litigator who achieves exceptional results for his clients."
"Kent fights hard for his clients and advocates zealously for them. He is professional and also takes time to mentor up and coming attorneys. I highly recommend Kent Underwood."
"Kent Underwood is a fearless figure in the criminal defense community. His genuine passion for protecting his clients' rights is obvious, and he does an excellent job of presenting novel defenses and strategies on tough cases that lesser attorneys might deem hopeless. I'm proud to work in a community with so many great attorneys like Kent."
"Kent is a great attorney. He is tenacious, and thinks outside of the box. I enjoy working with him."
"Kent and I have represented co-defendants on a number of cases. He is bright, well prepared, creative and tenacious. He is good natured and seems to love what he is doing. He has all the attributes you should be looking for in a lawyer. I would hire him if I ever got in trouble."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2013
Certificate of Appreciation for work on Rules Committee, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
1997
Order of the Barristers, Seattle University School of Law
Work Experience
2008 - Present
Owner, The Law Office of Kent W. Underwood LLC
2000 - 2008
Owner - Sole Proprietor, Kent W. Underwood Attorney at Law
1999 - 2000
Temporary Hire, Department of Assigned Counsel
1996 - 1996
Internship, Washington Defender Association
Associations
2011 - Present
Washington Association of Criminal Defense LawyersRules Committee co-chair
2008 - 2008
Americans United for the Separation of Church and StateBoard Member
2000 - 2008
Washington Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
1999 - 2008
Tacoma Pierce County Bar AssociationMember
Sample of Legal Cases
L.R. v. DOL
dismissed
State v. Filitaula
Not Gulty of assault 1
State v. Davis
Not Guilty of assisting Maurice Clemmons
State v. Fain
Not guilty
State v. Blevins
Manufacturing meth reduced to conspiracy, BTC sentencing alternative
State v. Smiley
reduced to gross misdemeanor
State v. Lorsung
not guilty of first degree robbery
State V. Adair
Dismissed
State v Keating
Dismissed
State v. Allen
Plead to misdemeanor
State v. M.L.H.
conspiracy to manufacture meth
State v. M.G.
reduced to conspiracy
Education
1997
Seattle University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
University of Utah
MA - Masters
1990
California State University at Sacramento
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2012
Legal Writing Moot Court competition
Moot Court Judge
2011
Tacoma Hempfest
Your Rights When Contacted by the Police
2011
Moot Court Appellate competition
Moot Court Judge
2011
Legislative Hearing on Passing HB 1689
Testify on HB 1689 - Should Booking Photos be Released to Public
2010
WSBA Rules Committee Meeting
CrR 4.11, The Recording Rule, The WSBA should recommend that the WA Supreme Court publish CrR 4.11
2010
Seattle Hempfest
Police Contacts
2010
Olympia Hempfest
Police Contacts
2010
House Health and Human Services Committee Hearing on Medical Cannabis SB 5073
Testify Regarding Medical Cannabis
2009
Olympia Hempfest
Police Contacts
2000
Conference on Constitutional Law
Is the United States Constitution Outdated
Publications
2011
Washington Criminal Defense magazine vol 25 No. 3
Medical Cannabis - Highlights in the New (and Confusing) Legislation
Languages
Russian
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Top Contributor
Kent earned significant contribution points in 2012.
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can my brothers situation avoid jail time?
14 Jan 2018
Q&A
How much time can someone get for arson. He has 4 felony points. He has undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenia.
09 Sep 2013