Joshua Reed Saunders

Joshua Reed Saunders

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 18 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Seattle, WA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

901 Fifth Ave, Suite 2800, Seattle, WA

About Joshua

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Fees and Rates

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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 10 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2016

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in New York for 18 years

State: New York

Acquired: 2007

Resigned

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Joshua Reed Saunders

901 Fifth Ave, Suite 2800, Seattle, WA, 98164

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Joshua Reed Saunders's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

22 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (22) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Compassion

Posted by David | January 10, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Supported with Compassion, Competence, Clarity and Creativity

All of the above ( and more ) is what I am receiving from my partnership in working with Josh Saunders from The Marshall Defense Firm. From my very first interactions with Josh, I knew I was in great hands as I felt he not only listened, but that he TRULY listened in a way that I knew I was being he...ard. The false accusations against me were devastating and turned my world upside down. It was Josh's steady hand, guidance and his trust and belief in me that helped right this ship and has gotten me through some pretty stormy moments. Josh didn't spin any fairy tales to make me feel better, but rather provided outstanding clarity as to the process that lay before us and did so with not only with his keen professional competence, but also with the utmost of compassion and a high degree of creativity in bringing to light subtle details that I had not even considered. As we interviewed with investigators, Josh always displayed the epitome of respect towards whomever he was addressing and I believe in doing so, has been able to gain a number of concessions that will strengthen our case as we move forward. And while my particular outcome still remains to be seen, I absolutely know that I am more than well cared for through all of Josh's stellar efforts on my behalf. I no longer wake up in the morning with this nightmare staring squarely at me and for this alone I am truly most grateful!

Joshua Saunders

Replied last January 17, 2023

I really appreciate this detailed and thoughtful review, David. It's been a pleasure to work with you on your unique case. I hope we can continue to guide things in the right direction.

Posted by anonymous | October 05, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Outstanding Service

I had the outmost respect to work with Josh Saunders on my case. He is a very attentive individual. He was available by phone it seems like 24/7 throughout the entire time he was representing me and beyond. Josh was very generous with his communication and made me feel comfortable to speak to him as ...he shares a great deal of empathy. Josh helped me understand my circumstance/resolutions every step of the way through his knowledge of the defense system. We were fortunate to to reach a very beneficial settlement!

Joshua Saunders

Replied last October 06, 2022

Thank you for this nice review! It was a real pleasure to help defend you in this civil lawsuit. I am extraordinarily pleased that we ended up with such a great settlement for you.

Posted by anonymous | August 18, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Civil Rights

Excellent Attorney With a Kind Heart!

Without any reservation we would highly recommend Josh Saunders as a defense attorney. First and foremost he exhibited the highest character qualities and had the utmost integrity. We couldn't have asked for better representation to assist us through a very scary and confusing Title IX Grievance Pr...ocess at a university. We are beyond relieved with the dismissal of the complaint as the accusation was untrue. There is no doubt in our mind that the positive outcome of this case was the direct result of representation from Josh and the Marshall Defense Firm. This was an extremely sad and isolating time for our family. Josh's kind and compassionate nature was ever present throughout this process and he provided a much needed lifeline for our family. We never could have imagined the twists and turns this case would take, but through it all, Josh was always incredibly responsive and remained on top of countless issues at all times. Josh is very knowledgeable and detail-oriented. He left no stone unturned, educating himself with the university's obscure procedures and thoroughly researching and identifying all possible avenues and outcomes before offering advice or recommendations. His honesty and straight-forwardness was reassuring. Throughout this process we always felt listened to and supported not only by Josh but also by David Marshall who consulted on our case and their Paralegal, Tracey. We are so incredibly grateful for all you have done on our behalf to resolve this matter. Please accept our deepest gratitude!

Joshua Saunders

Replied last August 18, 2022

Thank you so much for this generous review. This was a case with some really unexpected and frustrating moments, and I am so glad it got dismissed in the end. Thank you for trusting me with such an important moment in your lives.

Posted by Jacob | May 02, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Case Dismissed!!

I was facing a very difficult and scary case, and did not know what the outcome would be. I am very thankful to God for bringing Josh Saunders into this case. I don’t have the words to express all the work and knowledge that Josh brought to the case for me. He worked with an amazing team to fight for... me and clear my name. He was able to get my case DISMISSED! He is very thoughtful, polite, respectful, caring, and has great knowledge of the criminal justice system. If there was something he didn’t know or understand, he would make sure to look it up and study the subject or matter. With me living out of the state of Washington, he made sure to accommodate the time difference, even if it meant he would have to wake up earlier to set up calls or meetings with me. I am very grateful for the expertise of the Marshall Defense Firm and especially Josh! Without them I wouldn’t have been able to get this far and have my name cleared! Josh definitely understood where I was coming from, and he did everything in his power to assist me. He never gave me any false hope, or sugar coated anything. He was always straight forward and honest with me. He made sure that I understood every step that we had to take, from setting up meetings with professionals to preparing me for what I could expect. Ever since Josh took the case, he was with me for every step of the way, he would always check up on me and made sure that I was okay, and he would offer help if I ever needed anything. I thank God for Josh Saunders and his incredible team and the hard work they put into this case. Josh Saunders is an amazing lawyer and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend him to anyone that is facing conviction. Josh and his team will work their hardest for you, this I can guarantee!! Thank you once again for all your hard work!

Joshua Saunders

Replied last May 23, 2022

Thank you for this eloquent review, Jacob. You were an absolute pleasure to work with, and I am so glad that we were able to get your case dismissed. Justice was truly done in this case.

Posted by anonymous | October 21, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Excellent Representation, Exceptional Service, Highly Proactive, Rigorous Follow-through

I was falsely accused of sexual assault. I had previously never interacted with the criminal justice system and all of a sudden, I found myself sifting through online reviews of criminal defense attorneys. After significant research, I hired what I thought was the best representation I could hope to ...obtain but quickly discovered that I needed so much more than just great reviews or fancy websites with promising case results. I needed rigorous pro-activeness, compassion, reassurance and someone to champion my innocence. Enter Joshua Saunders and the Marshall Defense Firm. After a few interactions with my previous lawyer, I chose to reach out to the Marshall Defense Firm for a consultation. Their focus on special assault defense cases highly appealed to me. Right away, Josh began collecting details relating to my situation and providing me with some clarity, guidance and what I could likely expect. He was able to immediately pick up on the strengths, merits of my case and suggest what we could do pro-actively as a team. Above all, Josh's interpersonal skills - especially his compassion, instantly resonated with me and I decided to retain the Marshall Defense Firm. Josh and the team got to work right away and Josh was always, always able to make time for me! We began with a preliminary in-person meeting to fully walk through the various details of my case, then began developing strategies. I had so many questions and received satisfactory answers to all of them. We were always thinking 10 steps ahead which is exactly what I wanted - some sense of control. Josh was able to diligently work with investigators and prosectors - relaying information, highlighting the merits of my account and inconsistencies in the accusation while always keeping me looped in on communications and updates. I always had full visibility into developments and Josh was always readily available when I had additional information or thoughts to share. Really, despite his caseload, Josh always made me feel like I was his only client and priority. We executed on all of our pro-active measures and ultimately, no charges were filed. Here's the thing - we were working this during the COVID-19 pandemic and in a time of historic backlog in the processing of cases. However, we were able to obtain a favorable disposition nonetheless, and fairly quickly. I was definitely not a passive client. I needed to know what we were doing/trying to do every week, even when sometimes, all you can do is wait. However, Josh's excellent communication skills and well timed circle backs ensured positive responses and acknowledgements from investigators and prosecutors. Josh is also incredibly competent at coordinating and following up with multiple parties, agencies and determining next steps, responding timely with relevant information as well as providing a preliminary qualitative assessment of various case details. No doubt, he's a highly professional and competent lawyer and I have no doubt that his future clients will be incredibly satisfied to have retained him...but what makes Josh amongst the BEST is all the non-lawyer-y aspects: those micro-interactions on phone calls when there were no updates, no positive news or only neutral news. His remarkable ability to see me as a human coping with the looming possibility of a charge, seeing me carrying the burden of it, reassuring me with the facts but never overpromising or departing for reality, reminding me that I was innocent, reminding me of all the great work we had done so far, going that extra mile for me even though it would have been sufficient to just sit back and wait, ultimately calling me one day to tell me that it was behind me and so much more! Those are all the things that make Josh a phenomenal lawyer and amongst the best and why you should retain him. Also, a shout out to the entire team - David Marshall (who advised on case), Tracey and Malea. You are all lovely and I'm so grateful to have worked with you all.

Joshua Saunders

Replied last November 09, 2021

Thank you so much for this eloquent and thoughtful review. I'm honored to have had the chance to represent you and so glad that we were successful in having no charges filed in this case.

See All Client Reviews

Joshua Reed Saunders's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Joshua
Emily Marie Gause headshot
Emily Gause

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 10

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Joshua and I have worked together on several complicated felony sex cases. I am consistently impressed by the passion and attention to detail he brings to each case. Joshua has a calm demeanor and measured approach to achieving great outcomes for his clients. He is highly respected throughout the legal community by fellow criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges. Any client looking for a compassionate, diligent, smart lawyer would be well-served by hiring Joshua. I confidently give him my highest endorsement."

David Hammerstad headshot
David Hammerstad

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 19

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Josh and I co-counseled an arson trial in federal court last fall. It was a massive case, involving dozens of witnesses, hundreds of exhibits, and a battle of the experts. Josh was fast on his feet, aggressive in his advocacy, compassionate with our client, and unflappable during the ups and downs of a several week trial. He inspired me to raise my own game watching the quality of his work. I endorse Josh without reservation."

Joshua Cole Wheeler headshot
Joshua Wheeler

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 19

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Josh and I have worked together on difficult matters. He is a smart and effective attorney, and he is on my short list of criminal attorneys to whom I refer my own clients. I endorse this lawyer."

Kristen E Gestaut headshot
Kristen Gestaut

Sex crime lawyer | May 30

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Josh is an outstanding attorney. He is dedicated, thoughtful, experienced, a strong communicator and an exceptional trial lawyer. He is highly respected within the legal community and consistently obtains favorable results for his clients."

Edwin Lee Aralica headshot
Edwin Aralica

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 21

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Josh and I worked together for several years. During that time he showed me that he cared about our clients and their well being."

Samantha Michelle Sommerman headshot
Samantha Sommerman

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 05

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Josh is a truly great defense attorney. I learned so much from watching him in court in Snohomish County. He does not give up, even in the face of some ridiculous rulings from Judges. He drove the prosecutors nuts."

James Hal Medows headshot
James Medows

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I would definitely endorse Mr. Saunders. There is no case case in which Mr. Saunders does not advocate for the rights of his client. You would be extremely lucky if you had him as your attorney."

View All Endorsements
Jason Jerome Greene headshot
Jason Greene

Military law lawyer

Sarra Marie headshot
Sarra Marie

Criminal defense lawyer

Benjamin Donly Thomas Moore headshot
Benjamin Moore

Criminal defense lawyer

Joshua Cole Wheeler headshot
Joshua Wheeler

Divorce and separation lawyer

Kristen E Gestaut headshot
Kristen Gestaut

Criminal defense lawyer

David Hammerstad headshot
David Hammerstad

Criminal defense lawyer

Emily Marie Gause headshot
Emily Gause

Criminal defense lawyer

Edwin Lee Aralica headshot
Edwin Aralica

Criminal defense lawyer

Leonardo M. Aldridge headshot
Leonardo Aldridge

Criminal defense lawyer

Benjamin C. T. Zeman headshot
Benjamin Zeman

Criminal defense lawyer

Molly Jack Gallivan headshot
Molly Gallivan

Criminal defense lawyer

Samantha Michelle Sommerman headshot
Samantha Sommerman

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2005

Review of Law and Social Change Articles Editor, New York University School of Law

1999

Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation

1998

Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship, US Department of Education

1996

James Spradley Award for Excellence in Anthropology, Macalester College

1996

Deans List, Macalester College

1995

Membership, Phi Beta Kappa

1995

Deans List, Macalester College

1993

Policy Debate Award, Macalester College

1993

Deans List, Macalester College

Work Experience

2021 - Present

Attorney, Law Office Of David S. Marshall

2016 - 2016

Attorney, Snohomish County Defender Association

2016 - 2020

Managing Attorney, King County Criminal Defense

2012 - 2021

Founder and Board Member, Brooklyn Community Bail Fund

2011 - 2015

Supervising Attorney, Brooklyn Defender Services

2009 - 2011

Attorney, The Bronx Defenders Office

2006 - 2009

Attorney, Brooklyn Defender Services

2005 - 2005

Summer Associate, Morgan Lewis

2005 - 2005

Attorney, Essex County Public Defender's Office

2004 - 2004

Attorney, New York Civil Liberties Union

Associations

2024 - Present

Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Board of Governors Member

2021 - Present

Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2021 - Present

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2016 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2017 - 2022

Northwest Community Bail Fund

Board Member

2016 - 2020

National Association for Public Defense

Member

2014 - 2015

Criminal Justice Operations Committee, New York City Bar

Member

2013 - 2014

Transition Team, Brooklyn District Attorney

Public Defense Representative

2007 - 2015

New York State Bar Association

Member

2004 - 2006

New York University Review of Law and Social Change

Article Selection Editor

2004 - 2006

New York University Prisoners Rights Education Project

Board Member

Education

2010

Bronx Defenders Trial College

2009

National Criminal Defense College

2006

New York University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2000

University of Texas

MA - Masters

1996

Macalester College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2025

WSBA Family Law Midyear

Nobody Can Parent from Prison: Managing an Accused Client’s Participation in Family Litigation

2025

Summer Training Central

The Sexsomnia Defense: Law, Medicine, and Strategy

2024

Child Abuse Allegations Conference

The Sexsomnia Defense: Law, Medicine, and Strategy

2022

Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Modernizing Legal Writing, Co-chair

2021

Washington State Bar Association, CLE Committee

Changes to Civil Protection Orders for Criminal Practitioners

2021

DRAW Annual Meeting

Changes to Civil Protection Orders

2018

Litigation Academy

Opening Statements

2017

Litigation Academy

Storytelling for Lawyers

2016

Brooklyn Historical Society

Our Broken Bail System

2010

Community Defender Clinic - NYU Law

Public Defense Practice

2009

New York University - Lawyering

Public Defense Practice

2009

Community Defender Clinic - NYU Law

Public Defense Practice

Publications

2003

Legal Affairs Ramsey Clark's Prosecution Complex

2003

Legal Affairs The Comic-Book Bar

2002

Legal Affairs The Disobedient Dozen

2000

Text, Practice, Performance The Uncanny Suburbs

Languages

Spanish

Italian

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