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Terry William Church

Litigation Attorney at Olympia, WA

5.0   34 reviews
Free consultation Virtual consultation available
Free consultation Virtual consultation available
  • Licensed for 32 years
    State WA
    Acquired 1990
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Terry

Learn Terry’s areas of practice.

3
Practice areas
STRONG ADVOCACY FOR INJURY VICTIMS

I have been practicing law in the South Puget Sound since 1990.  I am a Puget Sound native and graduated from Washington State University in 1984.

 

I am currently a member of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), have served as a chair of the WSAJ Thurston County Roundtable, and have been an Eagle member of WSAJ for many years.

 

I am a member of the Washington State Bar Association, and the Thurston and Pierce County Bar Associations.   I am currently serving on the Thurston County Bar Association Board of Directors.  I am contributing author to the Washington State Bar Association publication Washington Civil Trial and Evidence Manual, Voir Dire to Verdict (Fifth Edition, 2004).

 

In addition to being an advocate for injured people, I am also active in local civil courts as an arbitrator and mediator, and am regularly selected as an arbitrator to perform mandatory arbitrations in Thurston County Superior Court.  I have also served as a Judge Pro-Tem and Settlement Conference Judge for Thurston County District Court.

Awards

Client's Choice 2021,2020,2019
Client's Choice
2021 2020 2019

Contact Terry

Terry William Church
202 Central St Ne Ste 200
Olympia, WA, 98506-4480

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  34 customer reviews
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Client's Choice 2021
Client's Choice
Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.
Posted by Denise | July 14, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Top. Notch Local Attorney
I was traumatized and injured after my car accident in which a person decided texting was more important than driving. Getting barraged by insurance company calls while trying to heal was incredibly stressful - especially during the pandemic. That’s when I reached out to Terry Church. From Day 1, he and his team were amazing. They were responsive, personally accessible, experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled at negotiating. I appreciated their solid integrity and the fact that they are a local firm. I felt cared for throughout the process and trusted Terry and Joey explicitly. The end result was a more than fair settlement along with having all of my medical costs covered. I am super grateful I chose this firm and I highly recommend this team of legal experts.
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Posted by Justin | June 14, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Praise for Terry Church
My wife and I came to Terry after we had the misfortune of being hit by distracted drivers. We had never been in an accident before. We were nervous about litigation, but our insurance company was bullying us into prematurely wrapping up our medical treatment. Terry explained the litigation process in simple terms. He was readily available to answer our questions. He got our insurance company to pay our medical bills. He prepared us for arbitration and trial. However, thanks to his expertise and skill, we were able to settle everything outside of court. Our settlement was more than double what we anticipated. Working with Terry Church and the Church Rietzke firm was an absolute pleasure. Terry and his staff alleviated our stress. Terry’s calm, kind demeanor was extremely refreshing. However, Terry has the tenacity and assertiveness to yield big results. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude. I recommend Terry Church to anyone who has been in a car accident, and I strongly encourage anyone who has retained his services to relax and let Terry and his team handle everything. I trust his discretion, expertise, and professionalism.
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Posted by Melissa | June 11, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent and Professional Service
I contacted the office of Church Rietzke Johnson for assistance due to being involved in an accident and the insurance company was refusing to help me because they were claiming that they were not responsible. I am extremely pleased with their Professional service. They were very friendly, understanding and fought hard for me. I was also pleased with their communication, I was never in the dark about what was going on with my case and that made me feel at ease. Hopefully I don't need an attorney again, but if I do then I am contacting Terry Church and Joey first.
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Posted by Emily | May 19, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly Recommend!
I got into a car accident in October of 2019. I was hit from behind by a company car driven by someone with a suspended license! It wasn't a horrible accident, thank you Jesus, but it did give me whiplash and some soft tissue damage in my shoulders. My chiropractor has worked with Church Rietzke Johnson before and recommended them. They were incredibly responsive, even during the pandemic, and kept me updated during the whole process. My case just settled last month and I'll be receiving the amount soon. I'm so glad I went to them and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking legal help with personal injury!
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Posted by Ruth Delgado | March 11, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
True professionals
My experience with Mr. Church and his staff was very positive. He is very also very kind and supportive. I highly recommend this firm.
Posted by Sheila | March 3, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional
Terry Church was recommended to me by a trusted friend. I am impressed with Mr. Church’s professionalism and quick responses. His team is equally great. They are all professional yet personable.
Posted by Candice | December 16, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly Recommend
I highly recommend Terry Church and his team at Church Rietzke Johnson. They helped me with my recent auto accident personal injury case. Terry & Joey made the process smooth and easy to understand, even during Covid. Hiring them put my mind at ease that my doctor bills would be covered without me fighting tooth and nail. I am also confident that I would never have been able to receive the settlement total that I was awarded if I had tried on my own. The whole group was kind, professional, and personable. Don’t hesitate to call Church Rietzke Johnson!
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Posted by Judy | December 7, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Terry the best.
It was in2012 that Terry helped to change our lives for the better. I waa in a bad car accident that changed my life. I was declared unable to work anymore in my field of Nursing and it broke my heart. Terry and his crew helped us get through this and got us the top amount we could get from the Insurance. He was very compassionate and kind and never lost patience. He was honest about amount of time and money it was going to be. He has kept sending me his magnetic calendars every year that I requested and we just love him and his crew. He also has assisted when I have called about other things, even outside of his perview. I thank God we have honest lawyers like Terry Church. Thanks Judy and Steve Leppell.
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Posted by Barbara | November 18, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Terry Church Review
I was at a complete stop in my car, rear-ended and injured. My insurance company stopped paying my medical bills shortly after treatments started. I was far from healed at that point and knew I had to continue my medical care. I needed a good lawyer to represent me. I knew of Terry Church's ethics and integrity in fighting for his clients. Terry fought my own insurance company through an arbitration process and got all of my medical bills paid. But he didn't stop there. He then fought for recovery and won against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering so my medical treatments could continue as needed until my injuries stabilized. Because of his principles Terry goes the extra mile and does everything possible to resolve the claim in the best interest of his clients. It was a privilege to work with him and his paralegal Joey. This is a 5-star review for Terry's professionalism, experience and commitment, his unwavering skill communicating with the insurance companies, and negotiating a settlement and last but not least - his incredible staff. I highly recommend Terry and the Church Rietzke Johnson law firm.
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Posted by Tabitha | November 4, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly skilled, professional, and extremely responsive
I was in an accident and was attempting to resolve the matter myself, however quickly realized I would be better off enlisting the help of a professional. Because of my job, I tend to work with many personal injury firms and have seen how awful some can be to work with - so I knew from the start that I did not want to use 90% of the larger firms that you see advertised. After doing some research on different smaller offices (that could offer a personal touch and not make you feel like a cog in an assembly line), I decided to reach out to Church, Rietzke, and Johnson. From the time of my first meeting with Mr. Church, and until the final disposition of my case, all of the staff there have been pleasant, informative, professional, and most importantly responsive. I frequently worked with Joey and he was incredibly patient and helpful. They were able to settle my case for much more than I ever anticipated and I know I would not have had the same results if I had anyone else handle my case. I hope I never need the same services in the future, but if I do, I know that I will reach out to Mr. Church and his team.
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Posted by Leslie | August 25, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Terry Church in Olympia Washington
Terry Church and his team worked with me on my personal injury case for over 2 1/2 years, with a very satisfactory conclusion. I had physical injuries and a brain injury caused by being in a car accident. He treated me with respect and patience throughout the process. He never over promised anything - in fact, he was always a stickler for being realistic and conservative in dealing with potential financial outcomes. Most importantly, he continually urged me to get the medical care that I needed in order to reach maximum medical recovery and encouraged me to seek out the doctors that would be the best for me, based on my true medical needs. I am very grateful that I was encouraged to find medical professionals who were excellent in their respective specialties. Through Terry I found an attorney who cared for me as a person and also medical professionals who were caring and respectful. Terry is extremely competent, experienced, knowledgeable, a great listener, has much wisdom, advocates for clients and their best interests. He also has a wonderful team and partners. I highly recommend him.
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Posted by Veronica | July 10, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional, excellent assistance on an auto injury claim
I was very pleased with Terry Church and his team! This is an amazing office, that care about their clients. I was rear ended and both of our vehicle's were totalled. Terry and his team were very patient with me and did not want to close the case unless I was at 100%. I would recommend my family and friends with Church Rietzke. Thank you again!
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Posted by Eric | December 2, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Willing to fight for what's right
Terry Church took on a tough insurance case because he's willing to fight for what's right. It was a difficult fibromyalgia case against a major insurance company and Terry Church and his staff worked tirelessly to get the insurance company to pay. I can't even begin to explain how much Mr Church and his staff did to help me, by far the best lawyers I've ever seen. I can't recommend them enough.
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Posted by carolina | October 9, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE!
For 3 and 1/2 years Terry Church and his excellent staff walked with & guided me every step of the way. They were so hard working and impeccable with collecting, organizing & filing documents. Terry kept me informed every step of the way, letting me know where we stood and what we could expect....even when I was out of the country. From the very first meeting I knew I was in the hands of an extremely capable and caring lawyer - very ethical, respectful and transparent. Due to Terry Church’s abilities we were able to reach a fair and favorable outcome one year before the trial date! Even though I had suffered serious injuries, Terry and staff were a huge part of my recovery: almost zero stress/they gave me peace of mind. I could fully trust Terry and his team. I was confident in his work ethics & abilities to negotiate. He listened to me & often asked for my thoughts. Cudos to Kristina, my paralegal. I highly recommend the office of Church, Rietzke, Johnson and I am very grateful for their brilliant service.
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Posted by DE | June 12, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Good suggestion.
Was suggested by insurance defense attorney acquaintance. Candid in case review; professional in contacts; thorough in case handling; effective in negotiation and resolution of injury claim.
Posted by Jesse | April 17, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Amazing representation
My wife and I were rear-ended in a car wreck. The opposing insurance company kept calling my wife and badgering her to sign some papers just a couple days after the wreck The wreck was bad; we both had concussions; and we were in a really bad situation needing to heal up from this incident. A good friend of ours recommended Terry and his firm. We met with them and got a good feeling from the start. He was able to immediately get the opposing insurance company to stop contacting my wife. As time wore on, the other insurance company was very unresponsive and uncooperative. After about a year went by, Terry started the process to go to court. We were gearing up for depositions, interviews, the whole nine yards. At that point, the opposing side finally capitulated and began to bargain with us. Everything eventually worked out in the end. I am very grateful to Terry and his team for helping us out through the entire process. He and his team were very patient and explained everything as we went along. They were even able to occasionally meet after hours or on a weekend day when we could not get off from work. I have worked with other attorneys in the past who were not as easy to work with, nor as professional. I was very impressed with him and his team, that they were there for us, and worked so hard.
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Posted by Cameron | January 28, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
T Church Review
Terry and his team were a pleasure to work with. Very positive results, excellent communication, and a good group of strategic thinkers. Should the need arise in the future, I won’t hesitate to call Terry.
Posted by Lynn | October 21, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
He really cares!
I am totally impressed with the service I received from Terry Church. Although our case was small, we felt treated like ours was a million dollar case. Terry has great values which seem to motivate him to excel at fighting for justice for his clients. Not only did Terry achieve the exact outcome that we wanted, it was done very quickly – just one phone call and one letter from Terry gave results. As well as being a skilled attorney, he was personable, approachable, available and excelled at communication and follow-through. His paralegal, Kristina, is also outstanding. I learned from a past personal injury claim the importance and impacts of the paralegal – Kristina was far and away the best I’ve ever worked with. She was knowledgeable, a clear communicator and available when I needed to talk to her. On top of that she looked after details that I know other paralegals would have missed. In addition to being efficient and keeping us posted, she was friendly, patient, and considerate. I am very happy that we were referred to this team and I wouldn’t hesitate to contract with them again if needed in the future.
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Posted by anonymous | May 30, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional, Ethical, and Communicative
I contacted Terry to help us after my husband and I were injured in an auto accident. We arranged a free consultation, and were able to meet with him quickly. We were treated well, and I felt that we were given realistic and useful information to help us make choices about whether to acquire his representation and how to move forward. I didn't feel pressured by Terry or his office at any time, and I never felt that he promised more than he could deliver. We hired him, and that was an amazingly good choice! Everyone from the office staff to his paralegals were extremely professional, friendly, and easy to communicate with about our cases. We ended up communicating for over two years about highly personal matters (like health records), and I always felt that I was given gentle and honest treatment and protected during the very vulnerable process of acquiring health and rehabilitation services. His office made sure that my privacy was respected, and seemed to really care about how I was doing as a person. I felt that they were rooting for me as I recovered, and they never asked me to be anything other than 100% truthful about my experiences and level of recovery. I was impressed with their compassion and their ethics. I often worked with his paralegal Jose Ceja, who was incredibly patient about attempting to contact me, and who was adaptable in his means of communication. I was able to conduct discussion with him on the phone or through email easily, and he'd often contact me if there was a way that I could save money on the overall fees (that would be dealt with at the end of the settlement) if I could do a step myself. He always gave me the option of having him do it as well, if I was not comfortable. I often took those steps, and the fees were incredibly small at the end of my case and mostly involved the office making copies. They are extremely transparent about all money matters, so I never felt like I was taken by surprise in any way. They explain things. They give you a copy in writing, and then they explain them again until they know you understand. I appreciated that a lot, as many legal terms and contracts can be super hard to navigate. I never felt rushed or pushed into signing anything. The end of our case was just as transparent and pleasant as the rest of the experience. We saw everything in writing first, and got a chance to ask questions or request different handling of situations. I would highly recommend his representation in personal injury matters, and easily and happily recommend him to others.
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Posted by Allan | January 29, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent Assistance on an Auto Injury Claim
Terry and his paralegal, Joey, helped me through a financial settlement with my insurance company for an auto accident injury. Terry advised me as to the likely total settlement before filing the claim then handled the negotiations for it, prevented the insurance company from taking advantage of me (which had happened in a previous incident, leaving me having to pay for further treatments of that injury out of my own pocket). My wife and I are very pleased with their outstanding and professional help, and recommend them to other persons who have suffered auto accident injuries..
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
  • Contingency 33%-33%

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Partner
  • Church Rietzke PLLC
  • 1998 - Present
  • Partner
  • Morris & Church
  • 1990 - 1998

Education

  • University of Puget Sound School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1990
  • Washington State University
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1984

Associations

  • Thurston Volunteer Legal Services
  • President
  • 2020 - Present
  • Thurston County Bar Association
  • Board Member
  • 2011 - Present
  • Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1998 - Present
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1990 - Present
  • Washington State Association for Justice
  • Eagle Member
  • 1990 - Present
  • Thurston County Bar Association
  • President
  • 2015 - 2016
  • Thurston County Bar Association
  • Treasurer
  • 2013 - 2014
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Distinguished
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2020
  • Peer Review Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2018
  • BV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2015
  • Outstanding Journalism Graduate
  • Society of Professional Jourrnalists
  • 1984
View all awards

Publications

  • Washington Civil Trial and Evidence Manual
  • Contributing Author
  • 2004

Speaking Engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (10)
Given (2)
Endorse Terry
Personal injury Attorney | Jan 16
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Terry for several years and have arbitrated several cases in front of him. I have always found him to be thoughtful and professional in hearing matters and providing fair results. He understands the plight of the injured and does them justice. I highly recommend him!"
Unknown Attorney | Jun 29
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Personal injury Attorney | Apr 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Terry is an excellent attorney and an asset to the local bar as well as the community."
Personal injury Attorney | Oct 17
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Terry is one the best PI attorneys in Washington. He is thorough and aggressive for his clients. And a good guy"
Personal injury Attorney | Dec 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Terry is a well-known, established lawyer in the South Puget Sound area, who has a strong command of personal injury law. He cares about his clients and works tirelessly to get the best results possible for them. He does not hesitate to litigate when necessary, and gives sound, experienced advice to his clients. I whole-heartedly endorse him."
Litigation Attorney | Mar 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
Personal injury Attorney | Jan 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. My son was injured in an animal attack years ago and the insurance company handling the matter had an adjuster who literally seemed to be discounting the monetary value of my son's damages because my wife and I happen to be attorneys. Terry was appointed my son's GAL at time of settlement and he effectively worked to force a fair and unbiased settlement for my son. My wife and I continue to this day to recommend him for GAL services. AVVO puts high value on "peer endorsement" but the reality is Terry Church has more than my respect as a peer - he has my respect as the father of one of his client's."
Personal injury Attorney | Apr 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Terry is a smart and skilled attorney who is totally committed to obtaining the best possible recovery for his clients."
Personal injury Attorney | Dec 23
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Terry Church for many years. I've observed Terry in action as he represents his clients who have suffered personal injuries and he does an excellent job for them. Terry and his staff always go the extra mile in helping others."
Personal injury Attorney | Apr 23
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Terry is an experienced personal injury lawyer who connects with his clients and is always well prepared. He is a tough and effective negotiator respected by his peers and those in the insurance industry, I endorse his competence and integrity."
View more endorsements
Personal injury
Personal injury

Avvo Contributions

This attorney hasn't created any legal answers in Q&A or legal guides recently on Avvo.

Olympia Litigation Lawyer Terry William Church
Terry William Church
Litigation Attorney
Olympia, WA
Licensed for 32 years
Free Consultation
Virtual consultation available