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Don C. King

PRO

Don C. King

5.0
Rating: 9.2

Licensed for 30 years

Military law Lawyer at Seattle, WA
Practice Areas: Military Law

1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

About Don

Biography

Military attorneys and paralegals with over 100 combined years of active duty legal experience. There is no legal or security clearance issue that we have not fought. And because experience matters, we win--often.

Whether you are an active duty member, the parent of an active duty member, a veteran, or a civilian with security clearance issues, HIRE EXPERIENCE. We're here to help.

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Military Law 100%

court martial, appeals, security clearance suspension or revocations, administrative separation hearings, military records corrections discharge upgrades and pardons, nonjudicial punishment, NJP, military disciplinary actions.

31 years | 3,000 cases

100%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 120 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2026 2025 2024
...
+ 3

Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 4 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2021

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Oregon for 30 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 1996

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

King Military Law

1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA, 98107

kingmilitarylaw.com/

King Military Law

501 West Broadway Suite 800, San Diego, CA, 92101

kingmilitarylaw.com/

King Military Law

701 Palomar Airport Rd Suite 300, Carlsbad, CA 92011, Suite 300, Carlsbad, CA, 92011

kingmilitarylaw.com/

King Military Law

999 Waterside Dr., Suite 2525, Norfolk, VA, 23510

kingmilitarylaw.com/

King Military Law

50 N. Laura St, Suite 2500, Jacksonville, FL, 32202

kingmilitarylaw.com/

Online Presence

Other places you can find Don online.

Don C. King's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

95 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 30 reviews | Criminal Defense

Posted by anonymous | March 26, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Military physician defense

Don and his team are amazing. I am an active duty doctor who was charged following an allegation of failing a military random urine drug screen. I hired Don to represent me at both NJP and a Board of Inquiry. He is an absolute expert at all level of military law. My case was complex as it also includ...ed hospital privileges and how that overlapped with UCMJ violations. In the end, Don help me win at the BOI and all allegations were dismissed and I was retained in the military. The team here is very detailed orientated and very responsive, he was always willing to connect by phone for questions. Don's has so much knowledge about various commands and military communities, that he is capable of adjusting his writing style and legal approach to what he thinks would resonate best in that situation. During the BOI he was amazing; he was in total control of the whole situation. His experience in these situations is so apparent as he handles the government lawyers with ease. I worked a lot with his paralegal, Holly. She is an excellent writter and she has a calm sense about her that left me always feeling better. She has a huge amount of military legal experience and is an expert in military process. She was always able to explain to me what a situation would look like (how will NJP go, what should I expect, etc.). She was very organized, a great legal writer and all around kind person. If I ever have military legal problems in the future, I am calling Don and hiring him again without a doubt.

Don King

Replied last April 02, 2026

Hey Doc! Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with KML. While I’m so disappointed in the Navy that you needed our services, I’m so glad you chose us to fight this battle with you. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I've rarely seen such poor leadership decisions as in your case. This legal issue should never have existed and was purely the result of poor, self-preservation-focused decision-making. No reasonable person would have ever placed a man, a naval officer, and a physician of your quality in a defensive position. I’m sorry you had to fight so hard to win a battle that should never have existed. But I’m glad it’s behind you, freeing you up to continue the massive contributions you make to women’s health and to our Navy families. The Navy doesn’t have enough care providers like you (and, after your treatment by the Navy, we need not wonder why), and I know I join your patients, nurses, and Corpsmen when I say how happy they all are that you succeeded in your fight. And thanks for calling out the paralegals. Kasheta, Holly, and Angela are all retired military members who’ve dedicated themselves to fighting for fairness for our clients. Thanks for recognizing their impact. From all of us here at KML, our very best to you and your family, Doc, as you continue to do great things, in whatever capacity! Don and the KML Team

Posted by anonymous | February 26, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

10/10 Experience

I would absolutely recommend Mr. Kings representation to anyone being accused of a crime in the Military. His experience is second to none and his knowledge of the military legal process is very impressive. Personally, my command was not on my side through any steps of the process but KML had my back... every second and created an incredible defense package for me that impressed my command because of how detailed it was. He was able to uncover information that the command never even knew existed. The professionalism at KML is incredible and I will absolutely hire this legal team again to help me in the future.

Don King

Replied last February 26, 2026

Thank you for your review, "Anonymous." I recognize who you are, and I appreciate that you chose our firm to represent you during this stressful process. The entire KML team is pleased to see that you won—you absolutely deserved that victory. It is unacceptable when commands forget that loyalty must flow both ways and that allegations are not truth. It's disappointing to witness commands overlook this fundamental principle. All too often, commands or investigative agencies such as NCIS, CID, AFOSI, or CGIS gather only enough information to support a presumption of guilt, which ultimately influences their decision to charge you. At KML, we don't let this happen. From the start, we conduct our own investigation and collect evidence that SUPPORTS our clients. We then may present this compelling information to the prosecution or command before they make a decision, ensuring they have the complete picture—not just the narrow view provided by NCIS. This approach can, and does, make a significant difference for our client, as it did for you. We are thrilled to see you back on track! Wishing you continued success in your career, and I encourage you to stay in touch! Best, Don and the KML Team

Posted by anonymous | July 18, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

King Military Law is Your Only Choice- Our family’s Journey to Justice

If you’re searching for an attorney who is confident, meticulous, highly knowledgeable, and truly committed to your case, Don King is the clear and only choice. My family and I endured years of injustice and suffering before making the life-changing decision to hire Mr. King. From the moment we did..., we were met with a team whose professionalism, deep legal expertise and unwavering support gave us hope when we had little left. No words can truly capture the gratitude we felt when we heard the words “NOT GUILTY” - a surreal and long awaited moment that brought tears and relief beyond measure. Mr. King and his team left no stone unturned. They presented facts with precision, brought in expert testimony, and dismantled numerous false allegations with truth and integrity. He could not have represented us more powerfully or effectively. May God continue to bless King Military Law as they tirelessly fight for justice, truth and peace. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. King and his entire team - your dedication changed our lives forever.

Don King

Replied last July 21, 2025

Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback about your experience with KML. It's always gratifying to hear "NOT GUILTY" after being under suspicion for so long. It's just terrible how long it takes the military to bring cases from allegations to trial (in this case, nearly three years!), and living under that stress and anxiety takes a terrible toll on those involved. But you and your family kept the faith and hired us because you wanted to fight—and fight you did! I'm so glad it's over for you and happy it turned out the way it should. You can now all get on with your lives and leave this unfortunate process behind you! Thanks again for trusting us with your legal matter. We're honored that you chose us, and we're here for you again if you ever need us. Don and KML Team

Posted by Ivan | July 04, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

The best lawyer and man!

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Don, Holly and his entire team. Thanks to him, 2 years of nightmare are over. In my search for a lawyer, I came across those who wanted a lot of money, but did not even understand how to help me, those who did not want to take on my case, but Don im...mediately understood everything, and we all began to painstakingly work on solving my problem. I was wildly nervous, could not sleep, scrolled through my head how the trial would go .. and then the day X came .. Don literally charged me with confidence that everything would be fine. He simply destroyed the prosecution and their witnesses, especially the witness whom the prosecutor forced to lie under oath. I encountered lawyers from different fields, but they were all lazy and incompetent. Don literally reminded me of the main character in the movie "Suits" Harvey, who was a beast in court, always winning and doing it beautifully. Don, I really want to tell you how much I would love to work with you again, but I hope we can just have coffee/tequila and talk about life without that stressful waiting for court. You and your team demonstrated a high level of professionalism and even saved my Life. I don't have enough words to express how grateful I am to you.

Don King

Replied last July 15, 2025

Ivan, I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. It was an honor to work with Don to represent you through this long and difficult chapter. From day one, I could tell your case wasn’t going to be easy, but I also saw that you were ready to fight for the truth. You stayed engaged, you showed up, and you never gave up, even when things got tough. I saw how heavy the stress was, how much this weighed on you and your family, and I want you to know: your strength and commitment to fight for what was right was encouraging. You were also one of the most responsive clients I’ve ever worked with—every time I needed something, you were on it. You even caught a few things I missed along the way, which says a lot about how invested you were. As far as clients go, you made our job easier. The courtroom isn’t always fair. But you showed up with courage, and we made sure the truth came through loud and clear. You gave us your trust, and I never took that lightly. BTW, thanks for the "Suits" reference! I’m actually a huge Suits fan myself, so that reference definitely made my day. Wishing you and your family all the best in your next chapter. Holly and Team

Posted by John S. | April 07, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

“Thank God I had Mr. King”

When my case was over, I thought “Thank God I had Mr. King”. PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE: Although resume speaks for itself, his experience and expertise really shine when you see him in action. a. During the preparation, it seemed like he was always thinking three steps ahead. Also, h...e TENACIOUSLY FOUGHT for the Navy to release certain written materials to me until finally, the day before my board, they gave in. This information, which he insisted on me having access to, became the KEY contributor to me be cleared of the two most serious charges. b. In the courtroom, I felt like I had a pit bull sitting beside me. There were many factual errors in both my investigation package and in what the prosecutor said, and Mr. King did not let them get away with one thing. And if Mr. King felt that the prosecutor was doing something wrong regarding legal procedure, he would pounce on that immediately also. When Mr. King and the prosecutor would then explain their legal points of view to the senior member of the board, Mr. King almost always won. REMEMBERS YOU’RE A PERSON: a. My investigation took a long time, and sometimes months would go by without my hearing anything from the Navy. But Mr. King would call me every few weeks, even if there was no news about my case, just to see how I was doing. That sounds minor, but I was depressed and stressed out, so it meant a lot to know that someone involved in my case remembered I was alive. b. Although my BOI cleared me of the two most important charges, not everything went the way I wanted it to. Mr. King had the expertise to know that there was a good change this could happen; and he had the foresight, compassion, and personal skills to get me mentally prepared me for this ahead of time. GOES THE EXTRA MILE: a. Because of my depression I got behind on things, and a week before my board I gave Mr. King some materials that I should have brought to his attention far before. Understandably, Mr. King was not overjoyed to be getting so much information at the last minute, and I believe that the great majority of attorneys would have said (and quite rightfully) “I’m sorry, but a week before the board is just too late for me to look at all this”. But Mr. King didn’t let me down, and the work Mr. King did with those materials in that week was instrumental in me being cleared of the two most serious charges. b. This extra effort, when he could have just blown me off, was especially noteworthy because I know that this unexpected task had to have become a tremendous inconvenience for him (although he never complained to me about how much of an inconvenience, either then or later). (1) It involved calls to multiple people, and usually multiple calls to each of them. (2) He had the additional burden of doing all of this from the other side of the world; and so he had to take into account time zone changes/protecting his sleep but also the sleep of those he was trying to reach in the United States, etc. (3) He had to work over the weekend. c. I think most other lawyers would have said to themselves: “I’m in Europe, it’s the weekend, and this client could have given me this stuff weeks ago. To ____ with him”. But Mr. King jumped on these materials and took care of me. There is a saying “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when you don’t have to”. That’s Mr. King. OFFICE STAFF: Process paperwork correctly, return promptly; easy to reach; answer calls and emails promptly; polite. Noticeably more professional than staff for other lawyers I talked to. FINAL COMMENT: DO NOT TRUST NCIS. Shockingly incompetent and sloppy. As a result, an accusation that NCIS could have cleared me of when made (and in about an hour) did not get cleared up until 3 years later. Without Mr. King fighting for me, I would have been sunk.

Don King

Replied last April 15, 2025

Thanks for the kind words, John. We sure appreciate you sharing your story with others. Your case was a long, hard grind and a perfect example of how broken our system is. From easily proven false allegations to assumptions of guilt to unnecessarily erecting walls that you had to surmount to defend yourself--you faced all they could throw at you and fought back--and WON! All of us here at KML are sorry that you had to go through this but proud of the way you fought back and elated that you won! Hopefully, your story will be read by others who may be in similar circumstances and give them hope when things look bleak. Thanks again, John. Please stay in touch! Don

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Don C. King's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Don
Paul C LeBlanc headshot
Paul LeBlanc

Military law lawyer | Nov 03

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I've known Don for over 25 years. He is a dedicated and aggressive lawyer for his clients. He is fair and thoroughly prepared for any situation. His knowledge of military and administrative law is voluminous."

Bethany Payton-O'Brien headshot
Bethany Payton-O'Brien

Military law lawyer | Feb 16

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Don King is AGGRESSIVE and EXPERIENCED, and just the lawyer you need for a military legal matter. I have known him for almost 25 years and have worked with him on a number of legal cases over the years. Hire him now!"

View All Endorsements
Paul C LeBlanc headshot
Paul LeBlanc

Military law lawyer

Bethany Payton-O'Brien headshot
Bethany Payton-O'Brien

Military law lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.2 (Superb)

Honors

2019

Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers Invitation, National Trial Lawyers

2009

Outstanding Judge Advocate, Judge Advocates Association

2007

Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America

1996

Trial Advocacy Award Winner, American Trial Lawyers Association

Work Experience

1996 - 2020

Military Attorney, U.S. Navy Jag Corps

Associations

2020 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2020 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Military Law

2000 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Military Law Section

2000 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Criminal Law Section

Sample of Legal Cases

U.S. v. Shaw

Full acquittal

See More Legal Cases

Education

2019

Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army

Appellate Judge

2013

Judge Advocate General's School, U.S Air Force

Advanced Ethics Counselor

2010

Naval Justice School

National Security Litigation

2009

Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army

Military Judge

2002

Naval Justice School

Advanced Trial Litigtion

1999

Naval Justice School

Basic Trial Advocacy

1997

Naval Justice School

Basic Trial Litigation

1995

University of Oregon School of Law

J.D.

Speaking Engagements

2014

Advanced National Security Litigation Course

National Security Litigation

2013

Defense Counsel Assistance Course

Defense Counsel Litigation Skills

2011

Naval Justice School

Advanced Trial Advocacy

2006

Basic Lawyer Course

Trial Advocacy

Publications

2014

Deskbook for use by Navy and Marine Corps defense attorneys U.S. Navy Criminal Defense Counsel Deskbook

Activity

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