About Dennis
Dennis Twichel trained in Montana and returned to the Pacific Northwest to build a career in criminal defense. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Carroll College in 1984 and a law degree from the University of Montana School of Law in 1990. Those years shaped his approach to law: practical, steady, grounded in courtroom procedure.
He began his legal work at Stead, Vogel & Eide Law Office in 1990. That early period gave him exposure to day-to-day litigation and client counseling. He moved from associate work into running his own practice within a few years. In 1992 he opened his own firm and has practiced under the name Dennis J Twichel, Lawyer At Law PLLC since then.
Running a solo practice has defined much of his professional life. He manages casework, client intake, and trial preparation. He represents people accused of crimes in state court and is admitted to practice in forums that allow cases to proceed at the federal level as well. Over time his practice has settled into criminal defense work across a broad spectrum of matters.
Twichel has maintained steady involvement in bar and professional groups. He joined the Washington State Bar Association and the US District Court of Washington in 1992. He has been a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Washington Criminal Defense Lawyers Association since 1993. Locally, he has taken part in the Pierce County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section since 1992 and has contributed to the Fife City Chamber of Commerce since 1996. Those memberships reflect regular engagement with colleagues and ongoing exposure to developments in criminal law.
Colleagues describe him as the lawyer who expects the courtroom calendar and prepares accordingly. He handles a range of criminal matters, from misdemeanor charges to felony cases, and appears on behalf of clients in both state and federal proceedings. His work involves arraignments, pretrial motions, plea negotiations, and, when necessary, trial advocacy.
Clients who come to his office encounter a small-firm setting where one lawyer oversees the case from start to finish. He still manages the daily operations of his firm while tending to litigation and client communications. Today he continues to practice criminal defense through Dennis J Twichel, Lawyer At Law PLLC, representing individuals in Washington courts and federal matters when appropriate.
He currently focuses his practice on criminal defense representation in Washington state and federal courts.
