I had Sheila Newman as my attorney for a restraining order from an abusive ex-boyfriend about two…read moreyears ago, she's professional, kind and doesn't overwhelm you if anything legal stressed you out (I was a nervous wreck). Sheila Newman is emotionally intelligent, graceful in court, gentle and attentive. You can tell she really cares and is very honest. She is the type of attorney who has honor, does not give you "fluff" that wears you out when you call other attorneys and does not resort to being unnecessarily aggressive in order to win. At the time she represented me, she really listened to my needs and respected me, even if that probably was not the most great defense, I really appreciated her listening to me and telling me when I was going through a very abusive situation, that she believed "I should get my power back". She was right, and she is a "woman's woman" and she'd treat a male client just as fairly. She got the restraining order dropped, actually listened emotionally and not like a paycheck, and before it ever went to court and I would hire her again. You should hire her, and buy her flowers too. Thank you Sheila.

The office staff and the attorney are both very responsive. I especially like the chat with a real…read moreperson instead of AI on the pcva.law website. Pfau of PCVA is listed as a super lawyer on superlawyers.com

i contacted this firm via website chat in search for legal help with medical malpractice case. i…read moreinformed them twice that i am severely deaf and need ADA accommodation . i explained that i dont trust tty and need email or text communication. i gave my email address . i was told i would be contacted. a week goes by no response , i went back to the website asking why i havent been contacted . i didnt get a real answer they asked for my email again i provided it ...days go by again no reply . i strongly think that if i could hear on the phone i would have been contacted , this speaks pretty loudly and tells me that some one doesnt want to accommodate to a disability and just wont contact me if i request text communication. sure seems that way as it happened!

I am thoroughly disgusted with Attorney Chi Nguyen's lack of professionalism and communication…read more I found her through Yelp in July 2025 with glowing reviews. After a July 4th consultation, I hired her to handle my parenting plan matter (not my protection order, though she gave advice on that too). What followed was one of the worst professional experiences I've ever had. Here are the main issues: Never in court - She never once appeared in person, only via Zoom. We paid her the same as anyone else, yet she didn't show up physically. Unprofessional appearance - On Zoom, she dressed in casual T-shirts, not courtroom-appropriate attire. Paralegal overseas - The paralegal assigned to our case (Bernard) was working permanently out of the country. This made direct communication about our case nearly impossible. Bad legal advice & dishonesty - She advised my child to drop a protection order to "help" with a 50/50 parenting plan, then denied ever giving that advice in court. This damaged our case. Unprepared in court - Judges were visibly frustrated with her lack of preparation and awareness of required next steps. Communication failures - She ignored the client portal (where we receive notifications) and instead sent critical updates by regular email, which caused us to miss deadlines and hearings. Documents were submitted incorrectly and late, resulting in continuances, sanctions, and extra costs we had to pay ($700). Recent failure - For a GAL hearing, financial documents we sent in late August were submitted at the last minute. She failed to consult us on which GAL we preferred, leaving us blindsided in court. We left court feeling defeated every single time. Yesterday's hearing was the final straw--we fired her immediately. Hiring an attorney is stressful enough; you need someone professional, prepared, and communicative. Chi Nguyen was none of these. Do not hire her. I only gave 1 star because Yelp wouldn't let me submit my review without doing it.

I first went to Chi because she was referred to by a friend. However, my experience with her was…read morenot great at all. I contacted her around September to handle my case, and from time to time I asked her for updates in which she gave me very basic information. One day the DOL sends me a notice that my drivers license has been suspended because of failure to notice the court of my options. Mind you, this is something that is completely done by the lawyer. I message Chi, and she started to blame the court about how ridiculous they were, but in reality she should've kept status on my case. It's clear Chi treats each case as a $$ bag and doesn't care to check up on the status of her clients cases. As a result, this lead my insurance going up because Chi was unable to keep up with my case. Why would I go to a lawyer just to have my insurance go up....... and having to deal with that.??? Although she helped me with my ticket It's clear she doesn't value her customers and her replies are just straight up unprofessional at times. I wouldn't recommend her and steer away, there are other lawyers. A

Should probably be disbarred…read more I hired Ms. Halverson to handle a Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes investigation and later charge. After what I assumed was a thorough case review, she told me that the State didn't have any evidence because they were unable to access my phone, and that they needed the alleged victim to testify. Needless to say, I was very relieved by this. Unfortunately, neither of those things were true. And if she had bothered to actually read the police report, she would have known that. I live out of state, so when I was charged, she had to appear at my arraignment without me being physically present. The probable cause statement contained flat out libel, with no supporting evidence other than the statements of an admitted drug addict and mentally ill liar, which Ms. Halverson did not object to. Additionally, the State also issued a ridiculous and unnecessary no-contact order which falsely insinuated that I had stalked or harassed the alleged victim. Not only did Ms. Halverson fail to object to that order, but she told me I needed to sign it and return it immediately, without explaining the ramifications of doing so. It wasn't until several months later that I discovered just how serious those ramifications were. While reading through the paperwork preparing for trial, I discovered that the no-contact order contained a "no firearms" provision. I have been licensed to carry a firearm in 36 states for over 30 years, so needless to say, I was quite surprised and disturbed by this. So I called Ms. Halverson and asked her to have the NCO quashed. After she charged me to do so, she completely failed. A judge agreed that the firearms provision was unjustified and ordered that it be removed. Problem is Ms. Halverson didn't see to it that actually happened; there are two boxes on the form regarding firearms, and the clerk only unchecked one. So through her negligence, she put me at risk of arrest for nearly four years. If that's not "ineffective counsel" (or worse), I don't know what is. But wait, there's more. She told me she needed an additional $1500 to hire a private investigator to locate the alleged victim so she could interview her. What did that PI do for $1500 you ask? She called the alleged victim's mother on the phone and asked if she knew where she was so she could talk to her. The same mother who called the police, plastered my name all over the internet, and showed up at my house with two thugs illegally and surreptitiously recording my housemate, threatening me, and accusing me of kidnapping her daughter! When I told her that was "a really dumb thing to do", she quit - less than seven days before trial. In Washington State, employers can't reject you from jobs because of your criminal record, but they can if they think you're dangerous or violent, and that's exactly what the two documents Ms. Halverson allowed into the record falsely imply. I know this, because I applied for a job, and when they discovered the charge, they sent someone to the courthouse to pull the file. A file which is publicly accessible to anyone with a computer for 50 cents, still exists to this day, and likely will forever thanks to Ms. Halverson. So here's a recap: Ms. Halverson allowed the state to slander me on the record, got my firearms rights taken away over a non-violent and consensual conversation with someone whom I believed was of the age of consent (which the State does not dispute). Oh, and when the parents of the alleged victim plastered my name and photos all over the internet, got me fired from my six-figure job, and told their friends to "destroy my life", she told me I couldn't sue them, because it would "make things worse" (as if that were possible). And in one final blow, to add insult to injury, she had the nerve to send me a $700 bill for quitting. When you pay someone thousands of dollars to do a job, and they screw things up more than they were beforehand, one would think that they would apologize, issue a full refund, and do their best to clean up their mess. And I believe that's exactly what Ms. Halverson should do in my case if she has any integrity whatsoever. That would be a good start for all of the (likely permanent damage) her incompetence has caused and will continue to cause.

An attorney specializing in a different area of expertise than criminal defense referred me to…read moreKaren Halverson. The referring attorney stated that she would not refer anyone to a defense attorney other than Karen. Having had Karen represent me, I see that the referring attorney's statement was very well-founded. During my initial consultation with Karen, she was extremely quick to identify key information that eventually led to the charge against me being dismissed. Throughout the legal process that culminated in the charge dismissal, I found Karen's acumen, rapport with her peers, and passion in representing me to be very reassuring during an extremely stressful period of my life. Invariably, I left our meetings with a feeling of calmness. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be in need of a criminal defense attorney. Nor would I expect that any of my friends and associates would either. Even so, I've a stack of Karen's business cards at home and a couple in my wallet. If I find anyone I know in need of a criminal defense attorney, there is only one attorney to whom I would refer them: Karen Halverson. - A Grateful Client

A DOC probation officer with a history of misconduct tried to revoke my parole three times. I hired…read morethree private attorneys to defend myself, and Laura was the best of them. She wrote a strong, smart defense brief and even used a public records request to force the prosecution to produce a document that helped my case. She thinks creatively and knows the law. But she was also a diva. She got irritated when I asked for basic updates, even though attorneys are supposed to keep clients informed. She ghosted me before the hearing and again afterward, so I hired someone else. I'd been burned by my first attorney, so I made it clear I needed to see every brief and exhibit before meeting the judge. When she tried to schedule that meeting without giving me the documents, I requested a continuance. I got it--but then she vanished for three months, held the hearing with minimal communication, and never returned another call or email. If you don't need much communication from your attorney, she might work for you. Otherwise, be cautious.

Laura and her legal team are Amazing!!! They helped me and my two kids after our accident and…read morehelped us get the settlement we deserved! Very responsive and so helpful anytime I had (what I thought were silly) questions. She is very attentive and works hard for her clients! I Highly recommend Laura and her team!

Humane Legal Warriors…read more Veronica came billed by her referrals as "a real bulldog" though occasionally hard to reach due to high demand. In consultation she quickly grasped my situation with a few pointed questions. In court, where opposing counsel showboated or exaggerated, Veronica was calm, matter-of-fact, almost conversational. This was unnerving at first, but after our first couple rulings (favorable), I saw the other attorneys' performances as aimed at clients, not the judges. Veronica doesn't perform or exaggerate; She deals in facts that matter to the court, and delivers. When opposing counsel misrepresented events or twisted my statements, Veronica was quick to object sharply. I did not find her hard to reach: She seems to monitor e-mail at all hours, replying on weekends and holidays when necessary. Amy, her Chief Managing Paralegal, is fantastic - Sharp, tough, efficient, quick to recognize strategic value of details, and empathetic when needed (I needed a lot of reassurance). Divorce is awful enough, but the opacity and pace of the legal system is terrifying when family and financial matters seem to hinge on every ruling. Amy did a great job of keeping events in context of the law and our strategy, advising me on what to expect, and preparing me for each next step. She was responsive even when clearly managing a heavy case load. Working closely with her, I found myself fascinated by the process, and as another reviewer relates, at times even enjoying it. Both of them can be abrupt, perhaps an occupational hazard which I found intimidating, but came to recognize as ultimately in my best interest by not wasting time on what wasn't material or legally advantageous. Both could also quickly switch tone when I made clear my nerves were frayed. Their small adjustments and spontaneous offerings of compassionate perspective helped me trust they were honoring their fiduciary role, and actually cared about the outcome for me and my family, not just for their scorecard. As my case unfolded, that trust was rewarded with results. Despite the opposing party hiring a big firm and spending over twice what I paid in legal fees, the court ruled decidedly in my favor at nearly every hearing, and we settled with a very reasonable financial division. Most importantly, what Veronica, Amy, and their team secured for me is beyond valuation: A fair custody arrangement, and the legal protection throughout a very contentious divorce to enable me to live my life and enjoy some of the best family moments I've had in years. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had Veronica, Amy, and their team represent and guide me through an otherwise very trying ordeal.

I hired Ms. Freitas for a complicated divorce case from a 30-year marriage after seeing positive…read moreGoogle reviews. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. I later read that she review gates, and from my experience, it appears this may be true. Based on my experience, I would not recommend Ms. Freitas for complex divorce cases. She doesn't listen, is unprepared and sticks to her agenda, not what is best for her client. Her communication was inconsistent. Important emails were not read before calls, and I often received multiple, confusing responses from different team members. I spoke with Veronica twice; the initial consultation 1.5 years before and a useless phone call 2 days prior to mediation where she berated and lectured me instead of discussing my concerns. Veronica's preparation for mediation was lacking. I had to review materials myself with the mediator, as Ms. Freitas had not read the opposing counsel's documents. Billing was unclear and included charges from unidentified staff. When I raised concerns, Veronica became defensive, stating she was cheaper than most attorneys and I should be grateful.

Great lawyer awesome and easy communication. Got me the deal I wanted! Always respectful and always…read moreon top of her stuff!!!

My most sincere and deepest apologies to this attorney for my ignorance, due to a injection…read moredamages, I have sustain from a surgery that should have never taken place, I have filed a few complaints on this attorney, because I thought her behavior was in appropriate, witch some of it could have been, I think this is in fact a good attorney, But with all the stress that has been put on me and have endured and with the damages that I've sustained from resent surgeries, has made me stupid, and unaware that everything we do on line now goes public, Even the complaints I indeed thought were private! I retract anything I have said bad about this fine attorney, And I'm deeply ashamed of my self for not seeing how stupid I have become, for the damages I have sustain in several surgeries, I highly recommend this attorney, and hope she can find it in her heart to forgive me, and my ignorant behavior, she is a fine attorney and very smart, even if we don't see eye to eye! Thanks You! Jeniece LaCross

I retained Jennifer Miller to represent me in a civil suit, and am so glad I did. Throughout a year…read morelong, very frustrating and extremely traumatic process, Ms. Miller was the light at the end of every tunnel; Jennifer is honest, transparent, and realistic but also extremely compassionate and genuine. Ms. Miller and her team at Miller Law Group worked with my co defendant and I at every turn to ensure we were represented at the very highest level, they were extremely well prepared, and Jennifer can see right through the BS and has the ability and experience to shut it down. Thank you to the entire team for representing us so well, thank you for your kindness, and thank you for seeing us through to the end. Thank you for being real people and meeting us where we were, thank you for defending our reputations. Thank you.

Having someone on your side who fully understands a terribly stressful chain of events and assures…read moreyou you'll "get through this" is gold. And that's where Ms Miller shines. She has an incredibly accurate bs-detector mainly due to her vast experience in the legal system, and responds accordingly. She's a good soul too -- no nonsense, good at dismantling and bringing justice to perceived events.