Paul Dennis Key

Paul Dennis Key

4.8
Rating: 9.6

Licensed for 29 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at McKinney, TX
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

3900 S Stonebridge Drive, Suite 502, McKinney, TX

About Paul

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Texas for 29 years

State: Texas

Acquired: 1996

Eligible to Practice in Texas

No misconduct found

Licensed in California for 27 years

State: California

Acquired: 1998

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Paul Dennis Key

3900 S Stonebridge Drive, Suite 502, McKinney, TX, 75070

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Paul Dennis Key's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

52 Client Reviews

Showing 26 - 29 of 29 reviews | Recommendation

Posted by Julie | November 09, 2012 | Criminal Defense

Hands down...The best attorney in Texas!

My name is Julie Dill and I highly reccommend Paul Key. He has represented me on two different occasions. He went above and beyond to fight for me and my freedom. He is honest, sincere and professional. I have already reccommended him to a friend of mine. And that friend also had nothing but the best... experience with Mr. Key. If you need someone you can trust and someone who will go above and beyond to defend you, Paul Key is the attorney you need. I have no regrets hiring him. As long as he is in practice, I will not look to anyone else to defend me. Hopefully I will not put myself in anymore situations to where I will need his assistance. Never the less...he believed in me when it was hard believing in myself. Thank you, Paul.

Posted by anonymous | November 09, 2012 | Criminal Defense

Theft

I hired Paul on a referral from a friend. I didn't know what to do when my child was accused of theft. My child had never been in trouble before and I didn’t want her to have a criminal record. Mr. Key was able to get my child into a diversion program, lower her restitution, and get her the counsel...ing she needed. If she follows through and finishes the program her case will never get prosecuted. I am so glad I went with Mr. Key.

Posted by Edith | November 07, 2012 | Criminal Defense

My Husband's Javier R

My name is Edith . After 60 days my lovely husband he is still in collin county jail.Attorny paul dennis key. he is a real " JEARK". After i paid him $2,500.00 cash.he send me a test message,and guess what it said.From now on I'm not going to give you any information over your husband's case.You a...re not my client .Dont call me no more because I'm not going to anwser your calls.You already paid me my money that was the only bussines that we had.If you ever need to know anything about your husband's case you have to ask him your self not me. And don't even try to call because you just going to waist you time. But the first time that I meet him he was real nice ,explain step by step how he was going to help my husband that he was going to visit him, his self in person .After he told me all that, "GUESS" what he did .Yes he run quick to callin county jail to see and talk to my husband before I could talk to him (MY HUSBAND) make him sing a paper told him that was for his court didn't let him read it because he was in a hurry trick my husband the paper was something else that it said he dosen't has to give information about his case that he work for him not for me and make him sing it. Like 2 hours after my husband calls me and he told me. My attorny was here asking alot of questions about you he even brought his laptop for the first time but I dont't know why he keep on asking me about you ,what is you date of birth ,if you have a middle name if you go by another last name but before all that he make me sing that paper that he didn't let me read I trust him because he is my attorny but he is a real bad person how can he do me like that lie to me saying that was a paper for court he fool me bad. And Im the same person that post like 4 weeks ago how please I was with his service .NOT anymore He stole my money .I sing the contract with him ,not my husband.I hire him,not my husband. HE didn't help my husband at all He havent do anything at all but visit him one time .The second time he visit my husband was because he had court that day in collin county not because he wanted to help my husband in any way. He haven't do no work on my husband case at all. "NOTHING". But he did took my money because i was the one who gave him the $2,500.00 Mr .key is real bad attorny you'll need to watch out he is a THEFT with license he dosen't touch his heart to take your money that's what hew did to me .I just want evybody to know they need to watch out he is there in McKinney texas and My Hipanic community be very care full he speak real good Spanish EL HABLA ESPANOL DON'T LET HIM TRICK YOU . HE CALLS HIM SELF "PABLO".CUIDENSE DE ESTE ABOGADO ES UN RRATERO LE RROBA A LOS HISPANOS.

Paul Key

Replied last November 09, 2012

Mrs. Chavez: I will ask you again to please forward all of your complaints to the State Bar of Texas, where they can be properly addressed: State Commission on Judicial Conduct PO Box 12265 Austin, Texas 78711-2265 512-463-5533

Posted by anonymous | December 07, 2010 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Paul Key stuck up for me NOT GUILTY

My wife accused me of assault right before she filed for divorce. I didn't know what to do. I didn't assault her. Not ever. I told the police what happened that night but they didn't believe me. They just took her word for it without any evidence. I called Paul Key. I got his name from a friend of mi...ne who said he was good. First we talked about it on the phone and then I met with him at his office. You can just tell by talking to him that he knows his stuff. He did everything he said he'd do and it went just like he predicted. They were trying to get a protective order against me too, but he got that judge to postpone that case while we fought the assault. I didn't even know what a big deal the protective order was but Mr. Key explained that it looks awful on your record. We didn't even wait for our first court date for the assault. Mr. Key took me up there and we immediately set it for a jury trial. I'm 6'3" and weigh about 250. Paul Key must be all of 5'4" but I felt like I had my big brother in that court room. He stood up to those DAs and he tore that cop up and practically made him admit that he didn't do any investigation and just took her word for it. He lit into my wife on that stand I can't even explain it. I've never felt so vindicated in my life.There must have been about 8 DA's in the court room watching the trial. You could tell that they wanted to win bad. It took that jury about 5 minutes to come back not guilty. The other DA even dropped the protective order after that. After that Mr. Key got my record cleared. There is no more record anywhere of my arrest. Like it never happened.

See All Client Reviews

Paul Dennis Key's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Paul
Ryan Joseph King headshot
Ryan King

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Paul is the type of lawyer who prosecutors hate to love. They hate him because he passionately defends his clients until he gets what he wants, but they love him because he does it with his wit and humor that makes it easy to give him what he wants. I am speaking as a former prosecutor who went against him for many years. Paul is a great lawyer."

Ali Ebrahimzadeh headshot
Ali Ebrahimzadeh

Unknown lawyer | Jan 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington headshot
Alexandra Gonzalez-Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jill L Rogers headshot
Jill Rogers

Unknown lawyer | Feb 10

Relationship: Other

"Highly respected and overall a great attorney. I endorse this lawyer."

Thomas Murray Spivack headshot
Thomas Spivack

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. It is very clear from his experience, contributions and reviews that Mr. Key is extremely knowledgeable and highly competent. I wouldn't hesitate recommending him."

Pezhman Pakneshan headshot
Pezhman Pakneshan

Unknown lawyer | Feb 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jonathan Eaton Rooker headshot
Jonathan Rooker

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. He works hard for his clients, and gets results."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Paul. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Joshua Frank Andor headshot
Joshua Andor

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 12

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Paul is a great attorney; very knowledgeable and aggressive in his representation of his clients."

Derk Allan Wadas headshot
Derk Wadas

Criminal defense lawyer | May 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Paul is one of the most tenacious and creative litigators that I know. He has a great knowledge criminal law, and consistently uses that knowledge to achieve great results for clients."

Eric Stephen Lafleur headshot
Eric Lafleur

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Paul Key as a criminal defense attorney. I couldn't name a more aggressive, tenacious and thorough attorney practicing in Collin County."

View All Endorsements
Ryan Joseph King headshot
Ryan King

Criminal defense lawyer

Pezhman Pakneshan headshot
Pezhman Pakneshan

Criminal defense lawyer

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Military law lawyer

Eric Stephen Lafleur headshot
Eric Lafleur

Divorce and separation lawyer

Joshua Frank Andor headshot
Joshua Andor

Family lawyer

Derk Allan Wadas headshot
Derk Wadas

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.6 (Superb)

Honors

1996

Cum Laude, St. Mary's University, School of Law

1994

Scholastic Excellence in Criminal Law, Corpus Juris Secundum

Work Experience

2013 - Present

Criminal & Capital Defense, Law Office of Paul D. Key, P.C.

2003 - Present

Criminal Defense Attorney, Law Office of Paul D. Key, P.C.

2005 - 2013

Criminal Defense & Criminal Appellate Attoney, Law Office of Paul D. Key, P.C.

2001 - 2003

Chief Prosecutor, Domestic Violence, Collin County District Attorney

2000 - 2001

Prosecutor, Collin County District Attorney

1999 - 2000

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney, Puerto Rico

1999 - 2000

Captain, JAG, Prosecutor, United States Army

1998 - 1998

Captain, JAG, Operational Law, United States Army

1997 - 1997

JAG 1st Lieutenant, United States Army

Associations

2015 - Present

McKinney Family Violence Defense

President

2014 - Present

Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

Member

2014 - Present

Collin County Capital Defense Lawyers

Chair, Scientific Evidence

2012 - 2013

Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

Treasurer/Secretary

2003 - 2011

Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Assault Family Violence

Not guilty

Assault/Family Violence

Charge Reduced

Assault/Family Violence

Not Guilty

Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon

No billed.

Unlawful Carrying of Weapon

Charge Reduced

Indecency with a Child

Guilty plea, but fair punishment

Possession of Controlled Substance

Felony reduced to misdemeanor

DWI "win" for Client

Guilty plea, with a little more than one day in jail

Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

Continued on probation during motion to revoke

Assault/Family Violence

Charge Reduced

Possession of Marijuana

Charge Dismissed

DWI "jail" sentence

Guilty plea, with better than probation jail sentence

Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle

No billed by grand jury

Assault on Public Servant

No billed by grand jury

Capital Murder

NOT GUILTY

Harrassment

Not Guilty

Tampering With Evidence

Not guilty.

Possession of Marijuana - Not Guilty

Not guilty.

Possession Controlled Substance - Reduced

Charge reduced to misdemeanor with time served

Possession of Marijuana

Not guilty

DWI

Not guilty.

Theft

Not guilty.

Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon

Not guilty.

Felony Possession of Marijuana

Not guilty.

Assault with Big Black Eye and Stiches = Not Guilty

Not guilty

Interference with Emergency Call

Not guilty

Assault

Not guilty.

Assault/Family Violence - Dismissed

Charge dismissed.

Weapon in Prohibited Place

Not guilty.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1996

St Mary's University of San Antonio

MA - Masters

1996

St. Marys University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1992

San Diego State University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2015

Collin County Capital Defense Dinner

Scientific Evidence in Capital Defense

2004

3CDLA Monthly Luncheon

The Dangers of Court-Appointmented Lawyer System

Publications

2002

A Guide to the Texas Transportation Code A Guide to the Texas Transportation Code

Languages

Spanish

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution