Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney

“You just can’t buy these ratings,” Paul says, in a moment of satisfaction.

Rated independently as a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by peers in the judicial circuit, as well as being recognized for winning and overall excellence in and out of the courtroom, Paul Bernstein has a lot to feel satisfied about. His success is no accident. 30 years ago he left the prosecutor’s camp and decided to focus on Defense. It’s like calling a shot in pool- he really made it.

“Seattle Met Magazine has been on a ratings spree this year. Doctors, Attorneys, Restaurants, etc. They decided to show off the best of the best in this city. It’s very satisfying to be listed here, particularly since I didn’t hear about it in advance.”

Paul Bernstein is a no-fluff type person. He recognizes the bottom line:

“I think people care most that I’m affordable. Yes, I’ll take kudos along the way, and I think people want to know I have experience and I win cases. But if I get excited and start charging celebrity prices… then what?”

Paul specializes in Defense cases and creates winning scenarios for Court Proceedings in Criminal Defense, Family Law, and Personal Injury.

Experience on Your Side – Paul Bernstein

Paul is now in his 30th year of defending people when they most need help

• fighting the system
• fighting for what is right
• founding member of Washington Association of Defense Lawyers (WACDL)
• practicing law as a defender since 1981

 

Focus – Tenacity – Creativity

Paul Bernstein was educated at the College of William and Mary, Cambridge University, and Harvard Law School. He passed the Washington State bar exam in 1971, and has continually practiced law in local, state and federal courts since that time. From 1971 to 1981, he worked first for the King County prosecutor’s office, and then the Seattle City Attorney’s office.

At King County, he was a senior trial prosecutor, chief prosecutor for juvenile court, head of the sex crimes unit, and also focused on economic crime. He was the Chief prosecutor for the city of Seattle, where he developed what has now become a national model for prosecution of domestic violence.

Experience on your side

“I developed the national model for prosecution of domestic violence- I know how to analyze and win these cases.”

The ultimate referee would understand what it’s like to be on both sides of the competition- and Paul understands just that. With a decade under his belt in the prosecutor’s camp, and 30 years since practicing law as a Criminal Defense Attorney, this translates into winning strategy. If you don’t want to play games with the law, get the guy who knows the rules.

His work has been recognized, and landed him a seat in “Top Lawyers, 2010″ in the July issue of Seattle Met magazine. This is an independent survey of Seattle Attorneys whose peers, including judges and other non-commercially affiliated commentators provided winning feedback.

He is proud to be a founding member of WACDL (Washington association of defense lawyers).

“I probably echo many satisfied clients when I say that I would’ve been taken to the cleaners if it weren’t for Paul. My case was really tough, and it was embarrassing how much circumstantial evidence there was against me- but the truth was far from how it looked. I just wanted a fair shake and that’s what I got – thanks to Paul”

 

Focus, tenacity, and creativity as a top attorney…these same signature qualities have also allowed him to race his bicycle in Europe at a world class level, and become a recognized glass artist.

 

World Cup Road Race

pictured wearing red in the foreground