
Mark is a solo-practitioner who limits his practice to DUI Defense. During Law School, he worked in the Juvenile Division for the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and he also worked in the Corrections Division at the Attorney General's Office. After completing his degree, he clerked for a Snohomish County Superior Court Judge and worked 3 years in the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Mark's diverse background makes him a well-rounded Attorney. Mark has lived in Snohomish County for nearly all of his life. When Mark is not working, you can find him walking his dog “Grigio”, reading a book, or finding some new electronic gadget that catches his eye.
LICENSES
- Washington State Bar, 1997
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Arts- University of Washington
- Seattle University School of Law- 1997
LEGAL PRACTICE
- DOL Hearings
- Ignition Interlock Devices
- Criminal Convictions
- Mandatory Sentencing
- Marijuana DUI
- College Student DUI
- DUI Tactics
- DWI/ DUI Penalties
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- National College of DUI Defense
- Citizens for Judicial Excellence
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Snohomish County Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
Recent Blog Posts
SANTA’S NAUGHTY LIST: DUIS AND THE HOLIDAYS
Why Fight DUI Charges?
Are These Weed Breathalyzers Reliable?
Drivers Arrested for DUIs Occurring on Ferry Boats
Can You Refuse a Breathalyzer Test?
Recommendations
- Mark and his team were great! I was completely new to this and read his reviews on the internet and gave his office a call and that's all she wrote. Mark is so easy to talk to, extremely knowledgeable and actually listens to your concerns and addresses them accordingly. He's a straight shooter ...
- Mark was so great to work with. He helped me resolve my situation quickly. He was always responsive to my calls and messages and kept me well informed of my case. I highly recommend Mark.
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We beat the DOL hearing with his hard work and also beat the state with his staff's hard work.
Worth the money! Never promised anything but worked hard and helped out every step of the way, great staff! We beat the DOL hearing with his hard work and also beat the state with his staff's hard work. -
Fair, cost effective, knowledgeable and a real nice guy. Mark is awesome.
Fair, cost effective, knowledgeable and a real nice guy. Mark is awesome. My flat fee included an investigator and 18 months of persistence. Mark really got into the specifics of the case, turned out excellent pre-trial motions and briefs and put the prosecutor on notice that we would not fall ea... -
In the future, if I need further representation, you'll be the first person I call.
I appreciate your representation in this matter. Your extensive knowledge in this area of law as well as your attention to the most minute details allowed me to keep my driving privileges and reduced penalties I may have faced on the criminal side of the case. Overall, I felt the case turned out ... -
He was careful not to overpromise, but in the end he overdelivered!
Mark is quite simply an expert in the field of DUI defense. He is not only intimately familiar with the case law and recent developments, but is also very well connected within the field. Every time we appeared in court, Mark was catching up with acquaintances, maintaining his relationships and b... -
His attention to detail and strategic thinking is no doubt how we won our DOL case
WON the DOL hearing! Mr. Garka set realistic expectations and nailed my DOL hearing! I am extremely satisfied with the results Mark and staff attained. He focused on key details surrounding my case and kept overall strategy for the "BIG Win" at the forefront at all times, should we be going to co... -
I would 100% recommend him to anyone who may need his services.
Mark Garka is an amazing attorney & person. Throughout my entire DUI experience, he was extremely helpful, respectful & really made the whole situation go as smoothly as possible. He is very proactive with what needs to be done which I believe really helped with my case. He was able to get me the... -
I would recommend Mark to everyone who faces the consequences of a DUI
My life could have been lost. Mark saved me in so many ways with his sincerity and professionalism. Not only did he direct me in the right path on a personal basis, I got a new unaltered driver's license, and a second chance in life where I wasn't convicted with a DUI. Wow! I recommend Mark to ev... -
Mark is the go to guy. He basically saved my life in so many ways.
Mark is the go to guy. He basically saved my life in so many ways. Not only is he professional, but also attentive to your personal needs. It's a win-win situation. He and his staff are timely and got my driver's license back, and avoided the DUI criminal charge that could've included jail time (... -
I always looked forward to talking to him and he kept me well informed
Saved me close to 10 grand in fees and penalties. I always looked forward to talking to him and he kept me well informed through the whole process. - After making the horrible mistake of getting behind the wheel drunk, Mark helped me walk through the steps necessary to make amends for my mistake and get my life moving in a positive direction. He was even generous enough to keep working with me until my probation period was completed free of ch...
- Mark, Just a quick note to say, “thank you” again for all of your help. Sorry we had to meet under such bad circumstances, but it was truly a pleasure working with you.
- I am very happy with the results of Mark Garka's hard work. He is knowledgeable and experienced in handling his cases, and he is always available for questions or reassurance. I would highly encourage anyone who needs help to give Mark Garka a call.
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You are truly the best of the best and I will always recommend you.
Thank you for everything. You are truly the best of the best and I will always recommend you. -
My family thanks you for your assistance during our difficult time.
Mark, your kindness and promptness are greatly appreciated. My family thanks you for your assistance during our difficult time. -
You saved me and I really appreciate it a lot. You are a good man
Dear Mr. Garka, I want to thank you for doing a great job. You saved me and I really appreciate it a lot. You are a good man. Have a great day and keep up the good work - Mark- I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did for me and my case these past few months. You made the entire process so much smoother and helped me so much with all of my countless questions and I really appreciate it. You know you won't be seeing me again but if I know anyone who fi...
- Thank you so much for all you did for me. I will never forget what you did and I promise you I have learned my lesson and I am a better person. Thanks again so very much. Thank you just does not seem to be enough.
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The man is a superstar and I cannot recommend him highly enough!
Mark made a painful and awkward problem seem manageable. He covered all the bases and made me feel like he TRULY had my back at every turn. He kept me informed every step of the way. He is extremely knowledgeable and shares that volume of knowledge in a way that does not intimidate. His knowledge... -
Mark was able to mitigate my problems to a NON traffic misdemeanor.
Mark was able to mitigate my problems to a NON traffic misdemeanor. He kept me informed and was able to lighten my mood allowing to deal with my underlying problem. -
Even the judge said that I was getting off pretty good. I would most definitely recommend Mark.
This was my first time having to go through the DUI process so I was very nervous about the whole situation and overwhelmed with the procedures and steps I was about to have to go through. Mark was recommended by a friend and I'm so happy he did. Mark lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. He mad... -
This man is not only a great lawyer, but a perfect gentleman as well!
This man is not only a great lawyer, but a perfect gentleman as well! His knowledge of the system, and the great care he took through every phase of what I can only describe as a "great ordeal" for myself, was nothing short of exceptional at the very least for how he handled my matter. -
In the end, my charge was reduced to something much less detrimental than a DUI.
After interviewing three different attorneys I chose Mark Garka. He struck me as knowledgeable, charismatic and trustworthy - a combination of traits that I did not sense with the other attorneys I interviewed. Given the circumstances of my arrest, I was very surprised and impressed when Mark inf... - Mark is a very good attorney and he has the resources and network to help you through the process. He will do everything to make the best or possible outcome and I also believe that he did a good job representing my case.
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I highly recommend Mark Garka if you are looking for a good DUI attorney
Mark is very professional, but also very personable. I highly recommend Mark Garka if you are looking for a good DUI attorney. I had never been in any kind of trouble and did some stupid things and made statements to the trooper that didn't help my case. I blew over a 0.15. Needless to say, I tho... -
I felt I was treated with respect, kindness and professionalism.
Mark, I want to thank you for your exemplarity representation of my cases. I was very impressed with your actions and those of your staff and associates. I believe you did the best you could, and the results were more than satisfying. Most importantly, I felt I was treated with respect, kindness ... -
It would not have happened without your patience, persistence, and compassionate guidance.
Hi Mark, Thank you for your recent letter, and especially thank you for being indispensable in resolving my case. It would not have happened without your patience, persistence, and compassionate guidance. Five years later, I am better for it. Keep up the good work, which at $1K/year, is the best ... - I have known Mark for many years as a co worker and a friend. I never thought I'd need to hire him to help me with a criminal traffic ticket! Yes, bad stuff happens to good people but there are good people out there to help with the bad stuff, and Mark is one of them. Mark is a former law clerk, ...
- Nobody Could Have Done A Better Job With My Case Than Mark Garka When I met Mark I knew right away that he was going to get the job done. His politeness and professionalism is without a doubt the best I've seen out of the many lawyers I checked out for my DUI. When it came down to business he was...
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He is extremely skilled; you will always be informed and his staff is excellent.
MARK GARKA is the attorney you need. And YES; despite whatever anyone has told you personally or professionally; you do NEED an attorney for many reasons if you want the best possible outcome. My DUI was dismissed and the Department of Licensing dismissed it also. It's VERY important you hire the... -
Be assured that he will be integral in getting you the best outcome possible
Mark's internal procedures and knowledge of the local system were top-notch. Going through this new experience (for me), Mark and his staff were excellent in explaining the procedure, expectations and likelihood of the various outcomes. His process for prepping his clients for their court dates h... - Mr. Garka's knowledge of the system and all of its players is truly impressive. Throughout the entire process, it seemed as if everyone knew and respected him. I was very lucky to have him in my corner.
- Mark and his staff are wonderful. They are all very helpful and return calls promptly when questions arise. Mark's efforts, specifically, are greatly appreciated. Mark's knowledge of all aspects of the DUI legal process is exceptional. I recommend Mark to anyone seeking quality legal assistance f...
- I had never been arrested before, I didn't know DUI law, and I was considering going with a public defender. If you are in a similar situation, my advice is that you hire Mark. The prosecutor and judge can turn your life upside down even if your BAC is below .08. I learned afterward that many DUI...
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Due to his professionalism and experience, my DOL hearing was thrown out with ZERO repercussions.
This is the first and last time I will be arrested for a DUI. I found Mark by referral. Another attorney stated a fee and said I should represent myself for my DOL hearing because I would lose. Mark represented me and he got a reduction on my criminal case. Due to his professionalism and experien... - Thank you so very much for all your help with my multiple cases over the past few years. Hopefully I won't be needing your services again since I've found my sobriety, but I will not hesitate to highly recommend you to anyone I know who could use them. Again, thank you so much for everything you'...
- My 2nd DUI, reduced to Negligent Driving. Mark is amazing. Prosecuting Attorney would not budge. I had an attorney prior that was experienced. He suggested I go Deferred Prosecution. No other way or 45 days minimal in Jail! I dismissed him. Then found Mark. He was kind enough to take my case. He ...
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I can't imagine how much trouble I would have been in if I hadn't worked with Mark.
I've had multiple DUI's and there is a clear difference between Mark and the other attorney I used. I was just a number with dollar signs attached with my previous attorney. Not only is Mark my friend, but my outcomes were very favorable. It's a scary process that can and will change your life. I... - I decided to contact Mr. Garka after reading his bright reviews and his impressive profile. Given the severity of the mistake I made, I felt an enormous emotional burden which only got worse the more I read about it. From my first meeting with Mr. Garka I felt reassured that I had put my case in ...
- Mark helped me by providing a calm, informative, straight forward, no pressure initial consultation, which led me to retain his services. He help guide me through a stressful process, court hearings and meetings, which eventually led to a very favorable outcome. I am extremely happy I hired Mark,...
- I had heard of Mark through a family friend when it came to finding an attorney to represent my case. I would highly recommend any friends or family to have Mark represent. He's well experienced with DUI cases and kept in contact with me through my whole process. Kirsten is a wonderful assistant ...
- I had no prior experience in dealing with these types of issues and Mark was very helpful in guiding me throughout the process and obtaining a favorable outcome. The transition to everything being remote with Covid was also smooth and Mark was always quickly available through phone or text. I hig...
- Hello good afternoon Mark, I just wanna give you a very sincere thank you for everything that you did. I knew you were the right choice from the start and I am extremely grateful and impressed by the work you did. I hope no one close to me ever needs any legal service, but if they do, you are the...