Highly experienced trial attorneys who have worked prosecution, public defense, and now private criminal defense. Free consultation, flexible payment plans.
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Nearly 30 years of combined criminal defense experience
A former Oregon prosecutor now fights on your side
More than 60 trials fought in the courtroom
VanWa Legal's attorneys have worked prosecution, public defense, and now private criminal defense, helping people across Vancouver and Clark County avoid jail, fines, and a record that follows them. We've defended charges like yours before, and we know how to work the system on your behalf, not just react to it.
Whatever you're facing — a DUI, a domestic violence charge, a misdemeanor, or a felony — you deserve a lawyer who knows the law and knows how to use it for you. Every case starts with a free consultation, and we offer flexible payment plans if you can't pay everything upfront.
Cases we handle
How a Criminal Case Moves
Whether police had legal grounds to stop, search, or arrest you is often the first thing worth challenging, and can affect what evidence is usable.
The prosecutor decides what to charge, and initial charges are sometimes higher than what the facts support.
Your first court appearance: the judge sets release conditions and you enter a plea.
Many charges come with an automatic no-contact order that affects where you can live or go, sometimes before the case is decided.
We review the prosecutor's evidence, interview witnesses, and negotiate from a position of strength, not weakness.
Problems with the stop, search, or evidence become motions here, and this stage regularly changes the outcome of a case.
With roughly 60 jury trials behind our attorneys, we prepare every case as if it's going in front of a jury.
Contact us
Free consultation. Available 24/7. We quote a flat fee up front and offer payment plans on most cases. The number we quote is the number you pay, no matter how many hearings your case takes.
Meet the Team
Criminal defense and DUI attorney. Former Oregon prosecutor and Washington public defender. Practicing criminal law since 2009, with approximately 60 jury trials. Leads the firm's felony work.
About Roger Priest
Criminal defense attorney. Practicing criminal law since 2014. Interned as a prosecutor before becoming a Washington public defender. Focuses on the firm's misdemeanor defense.
About Kevin O'Brien
Guides clients from the first call to resolution, so nothing falls through the cracks between hearings.
About Vanessa Cavanaugh4.9 star reviews based on 110+ reviews
Areas We Serve
VanWa Legal handles criminal defense and DUI matters from our office at 712 W Evergreen Blvd in downtown Vancouver, minutes from the Clark County Courthouse.
FAQ
Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors are lower-level offenses handled in district or municipal court, with maximum penalties up to 364 days in jail. Felonies are more serious, carry the possibility of a year or more in prison, and are prosecuted in superior court. The classification affects everything from bail to long-term consequences, so it's one of the first things we look at.
It can. A no-contact order can bar you from a shared home or from contacting a member of your household, even before the case is resolved. If an order is putting you out of your own home, your attorney can ask the court to modify it early.
Yes. Many cases are reduced or dismissed before trial through negotiation or pretrial motions — for example, when the stop, search, or evidence had legal problems. Whether that's possible depends on the specific facts of your case.
Washington allows many convictions and arrests to be vacated or sealed once you've completed your sentence and any waiting period. Eligibility depends on the offense and your history; we can review your record and tell you what's possible.
In many cases, yes. Washington has a process to petition the court to restore firearm rights after a qualifying waiting period. Eligibility depends on the conviction and your record, and we can walk you through whether you qualify.
Contact us
Free consultation. Available 24/7. We quote a flat fee up front and offer payment plans on most cases. The number we quote is the number you pay, no matter how many hearings your case takes.
