Dennis B. Rafferty concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning & administration, criminal law, civil litigation, and estate law.  With nearly 50 years of experience in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania, Dennis has the legal knowledge and practical skills necessary to help you get the best possible result.

Dennis is a member of the Westmoreland Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. He has served as the Solicitor for the Ligonier Valley School District for over 40 years.  Dennis has represented clients in hundreds of civil and criminal trials over the course of his career, and has also successfully handled important appeals through the Pennsylvania appellate courts. 

Dennis is well-regarded by both the legal community and clients. He is rated as a preeminent lawyer by Martindale Hubbell, the oldest attorney rating service in the United States, receiving a 5.0 rating out of a possible 5-point scale. He has maintained this rating for over 35 years. Additionally, Dennis has been evaluated as meeting very high criteria of general ethical standards. These ratings and evaluations are based on both client and peer review criteria.

A life-long Latrobean, Dennis received his B.A. with high honors from St. Vincent College in 1971. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, with honors, in 1974.

When Dennis isn’t in the courtroom, you’ll find him at another court — the tennis court.  He is an avid tennis player and competes in USTA tournaments and leagues. He and his wife, Kathy Sartoris Rafferty, were high school sweethearts and have been married for 50 years. They both grew up in Latrobe and continue to reside there.

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1974

  • U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania

Education

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    • J.D. - 1974

    • Honors: cum laude

    • Honors: Order of the Coif

  • St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA

    • B.A. - 1971

    • Honors: magna cum laude

    • Major: Political Science

Professional Associations

  • Westmoreland Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member

  • Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Member

  • Pennsylvania Association of Trial Lawyers, Member

  • Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Member

3 Ways to Protect Your Family

What if there was a simple way to protect you and your family? What if there was a plan that would protect your children, keep the courts and the state out of your family affairs (and away from your money), and could prevent a judge from deciding who is going to care for your loved ones?

Our firm created 3 free resources for you to help you get started on your estate plan.

Enter your best email and I’ll send you my Asset Tracker, Power of Attorney Pointers, and 4-Step Guardian Guide absolutely free.