
Jeffrey Donald Kent
- (714) 401-3827
- contact@not-guilty.org
About:
Jeffrey D. Kent, Attorney at Law, has been practicing exclusively criminal law since he began his legal career in Orange County, California, in 1992. He is a 1989 graduate of the University of California, Irvine receiving B.A. degrees with honors in both Economics and Political Science. He then graduated from Western State University, College of Law in Fullerton, California with honors in 1992, and immediately passed the California State Bar Examination. Jeff worked with both the Orange County Public Defender and Orange County District Attorney's Office while in law school. During a career marked with high-profile successes, Jeff has handled several thousand criminal cases, including over 100 jury trials, in both state and federal courts, and a number of homicide cases. He also has had the privilege of being one of a select group of lawyers to have argued before the California Supreme Court. Jeff has been granted the honor of being a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He is one of approximately 25 in Orange County and 350 in the entire State of California to hold such certification! As testimony to the quality of his preparation and conduct of complex cases, Jeff's clients have included judges, politicians, private attorneys, public defenders, and law enforcement officers. He is also listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell with an AV rating (the highest given), Avvo.com with a 10.0 rating, and has been listed for numerous years in the Super Lawyers publication by Los Angeles Magazine. Jeff is a member on the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and a co-founder of the North Orange County Bar Association. He has been admitted the California State Bar (#162237), the various United States District Courts of the State of California, the United States Court of Appeal for the 9th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. View More ›
DVLawyers AI Summary:
The Kent Law Firm, based in Orange County, focuses exclusively on criminal defense, serving individuals facing various legal challenges. While their primary emphasis is not on domestic violence or family law, they provide services to those involved in criminal matters that may intersect with personal safety concerns. This firm is led by Jeffrey D. Kent, who has over three decades of experience in criminal law, practicing in both state and federal courts. The tone of the firm's communication is somewhat informal and occasionally light-hearted, often leveraging humor in its content. However, this approach may not resonate with survivors of domestic abuse, who often seek a more serious and compassionate tone in legal representation. It is essential for potential clients to assess if this style aligns with their needs and expectations. If you are a survivor of domestic violence and seeking legal assistance in related areas such as restraining orders, custody issues, or family law matters, this firm may not be the best fit. Given their focus on criminal defense, it would be wise for survivors to seek out legal practitioners with a dedicated emphasis on domestic violence cases. It's crucial to ensure that your legal representation understands the complexities of trauma-informed care and can navigate the sensitive nature of domestic abuse cases effectively.
Jurisdiction:California (Since 1992); 9th Circuit (Since 1995); U.S. Supreme Court (Since 1996)
Practice Area
Criminal Law
Guides reporting, evidence, bail conditions, no-contact orders, prosecutions or defenses, and record sealing, centering survivor safety and informed participation across the criminal process.
Languages
English
Fees
Free Consultation
Education
B.S.
J.D.
Awards
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2016)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2010)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2012)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2012)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2016)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2006)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2014)
Southern California Rising Stars
Southern California Rising Stars - Super Lawyers (2005)
Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Top 100 Trial Lawyers - National Trial Lawyers (2013)
Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys
Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys - American Society of Legal Advocates (2012)
Southern California Rising Stars
Southern California Rising Stars - Super Lawyers (2006)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2007)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2011)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2009)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2015)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2005)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2013)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2010)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2008)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2013)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2011)
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubble (2015)
Top 100 DUI Lawyers in California
Top 100 DUI Lawyers in California - National Advocacy for DUI Defense (2014)
Preeminent Lawyer
Preeminent Lawyer - Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (2014)
Orange County's Top Attorneys
Orange County's Top Attorneys - Metro Magazine (2012)
Southern California Rising Stars
Southern California Rising Stars - Super Lawyers (2004)
Top Lawyer
Top Lawyer - OC Metro magazine (2013)
Associations
Member
Member
Member
Member
Co-Founder
Reviews
RATED 5.0
Sep 11, 2025via Google
Mark Anderson III
"The best representation I’ve ever had in my life, the Kent law firm is truly a blessing. I wouldn’t want to be represented by anyone else!"
RATED 5.0
Sep 2, 2025via Google
Tim Hostetler
"A family member being faced with a CDL suspension for medical reasons was a daunting proposition. DMV required medical clearance but discouragingly, many medical personnel were unwilling to sign the forms. However, Jeff Kent knew exactly what to do. He stayed the course with us, provided guidance and support all the way through to successful CDL reinstatement. He was unfailingly VERY responsive to text and phone calls. Jeff Kent is a model attorney that I highly recommend for any civil/criminal cases. Many Thanks Jeff!"
RATED 5.0
Sep 2, 2025via Google
Chris Haynes
"Where do I even begin? Jeff Kent is more than a lawyer… he’s a guardian angel. I’ve never faced any type of crime in all my years of life. I’ve never been arrested, and I’ve never even had issues with traffic tickets. During the Christmas season, I had a little side hustle where I sold replica AirPods that were definitely fake. Honestly, it was hard to believe anyone didn’t know they weren’t real because I was selling them for $30–$50 each. My customers loved them, kept coming back, and even sent me referrals. If someone asked if they were fake, I’d just tell them to try them out and let me know what they thought. They’d test them, like them, and buy them. If they broke, I’d replace them for free. I convinced myself I was doing a good service. Did I think I was doing something wrong? Honestly, I had convinced myself that I wasn’t. But that didn’t matter—what I was doing was wrong. One day, I was arrested in an undercover sting operation after selling about $400 worth of AirPods to a plainclothes police officer. They said the value was worth more than $3,000 if they were real. That led to me being taken to the police station, booked, and charged with a felony. Yes—a felony. Mugshot and everything. I bailed myself out, but I was completely humiliated. I have a life insurance license that I’ve held for years, and suddenly I was terrified I’d lose it. I also thought I was going to lose my job. I’d never felt so alone. I was embarrassed to tell anyone, extremely anxious, and I couldn’t even focus on work. On top of that, I had to report the arrest to the Department of Insurance. The thought of losing my career and everything I had worked for was crushing. I reached out to a few different lawyers for consultations, but none of them made me feel comfortable. Then I called Jeff. From the very first appointment, he made me feel good about the situation and reassured me that he’d do his best. And he did better than that—he got my entire case dismissed in just a few months! Normally, this would have taken 6 months to a year (or longer), but Jeff made it happen in under 5 months. That’s unbelievable. I was expecting the worst, but Jeff stayed positive and kept me calm and informed every step of the way. In the end, I didn’t have to pay any restitution at all. All I had to do was complete 10 hours of community service. That was it. And now, I don’t have to report this arrest anywhere on any application. I can legally answer “NO, I HAVE NOT BEEN ARRESTED.” I have a clean record as if nothing ever happened—and I’m so thankful for that. Integrity and ethics mean everything, and I let that slip for a moment when I was chasing extra Christmas money. Not all money is good money, and I’ve learned my lesson the hard way. But I’m so thankful that Jeff gave me another chance. He’s patient, calm, and answered all my questions (even when I asked the same one over and over). I walked into his office a nervous wreck, but he always made me feel comfortable. And this is important: I saw Jeff before those long months of fear set in. If I hadn’t, I don’t know how I would’ve made it through. For months, I lived with that fear, not knowing if I’d face jail time or if my professional license would be gone forever—but Jeff carried me through it. Whatever money you’re thinking about spending on a lawyer—spend it with Jeff. It’s absolutely worth it. He has the skills, the knowledge, and the relationships to get the best possible outcome. I read a lot of reviews before I chose him, and I’m so glad I did. I hope my review helps you the same way others helped me. Jeff isn’t just a great lawyer—he’s a good father, a good friend, and a genuine human being. I couldn’t eat or think straight for weeks and months, but Jeff took that weight off me and gave me peace of mind. He’s not just a lawyer, he’s a lifesaver. Jeff, thank you for everything you’ve done and for staying patient with me. I’ll forever be grateful. If you’re on the fence, don’t hesitate—book your consultation with him. I promise you, it’s worth it."
RATED 5.0
Sep 2, 2025via Google
Jeff Hostetler
"Timely and accurate assistance during a time when anxiety can be debilitating. I would use Jeff Kent again for my needs. He got me where I needed to go thank you Jeff!"
RATED 5.0
Jul 2, 2025via Google
Gregory Ives
"My experience with the Jeff Kent Law Firm was superb. Jeff is a very knowledgeable attorney and well respected by his peers and court personnel. He handled my issues with the court system to a very satisfactory conclusion, and was always very responsive to my needs and requests. I highly recommend the Kent Law firm for any legal needs you may have."
