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Elizabeth Lauwaert Tuomey
About Elizabeth
Biography
Elizabeth has been litigating since law school, where she won her first trial as a student with the Georgetown University Juvenile Justice Clinic, defending juveniles in delinquency matters before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. After graduation and passing the bar, she became an Assistant Public Defender for the City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George. After gaining significant trial experience there, she entered private practice in 2004. She had the opportunity to participate in the successful appeal of Paiz v. Commonwealth of Virginia, published at 54 Va. App. 688 (2009), in the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and Henderson v. Commonwealth, 285 Va. 318 (2013), in the Supreme Court of Virginia.
From 2020-2024, Elizabeth served the citizens of Arlington County in the Prosecutor’s office, serving as a Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney. In that role, she revamped the discovery procedure, spearheaded the creation of a Disability Justice Coalition (in conjunction with the ARC of Nova), and represented the office in the two treatment courts, the Behavioral Health Docket and Recovery Court. She was the office liaison to the Department of Human Services, coordinating matters involving mental health and substance use disorder. She prosecuted two murder cases through completion, as well as handled many violent crimes, such as malicious wounding, carjacking, robbery, and burglary. She also prosecuted drug distribution cases and gun possession charges, while also handling entire sentencing dockets, involving probation violation charges as well as sentencing hearings.
DISCLAIMER: Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case, and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Education
30%
1 year
Criminal Defense
20%
23 years
DUI and DWI
20%
23 years
Juvenile Law
20%
21 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Virginia for 23 years
State: Virginia
Acquired: 2002
No misconduct found
Location
Tuomey Law Firm, PLLC
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 202, Fairfax, VA, 22030
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Elizabeth Lauwaert Tuomey's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
7 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by Steve | November 03, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Highly Recommend: Diligent, Proactive, and Dedicated Representation
Elizabeth represented me for a misdemeanor traffic infraction. This was the first time I had ever required a lawyer, so I was a little lost on who to reach out to. I saw Elizabeth's great reviews and reached out for a free consultation. When I called, she already had my case pulled up with the corres...
Posted by anonymous | August 19, 2014
misdemeanor arrest
Ms Tuomey was well informed and very pleasant to work with. She advised me honestly and candidly upfront as to what to expect from her services and the likely outcome of my legal case based on her knowledge and experience. She was always accessible when I had a question or needed information regard...
Posted by Jonathan | July 01, 2013 | Criminal Defense
Excellent for speeding ticket defense
I hired Ms. Tuomey to defend me from a charge of "Reckless Driving," in Fairfax County, which in my case they had charged as a misdemeanor. Ms. Tuomey patiently explained how the system worked (particularly that hardly anybody charged with misdemeanor reckless driving goes to jail!) and charged me a...
Elizabeth Lauwaert Tuomey's Lawyer Endorsements
"Liz just gets it. When she walks into court you can count on the fact she is absolutely prepared. She knows the law, studies out the issues, and knows how to use the law to her clients' advantage. I also appreciate she'll just tell you how it is and what she thinks, with no BS -- something sorely missing from many lawyers. I highly endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Elizabeth is dedicated and responsive attorney. I am an immigration attorney that represents aliens in removal proceedings. She represented a mutual client facing criminal charges that impacted his immigration status. Working together, we were able to obtain a favorable outcome for the client and prevent his deportation. Since then I have referred aliens to her facing criminal charges based on the positive experience that I had in working with her."
"I endorse this lawyer. A true expert in her field. Seasoned and experienced litigator. Can be counted to get results in the toughest cases. My highest recommendation."
"Solo practitioners, like I, sometimes need to ask colleagues of their availability to appear for us for a continuance motion or other procedural matter when we are tied up in another court. Whenever Liz has been available for such coverage, I have been confident to know that I was in good hands. As simple as this type of court coverage sounds, I am a stickler to assure my clients always are well represented, and I know I get that with Liz. I also have benefited from Liz's on-the-money thoughts on my cases that I have discussed with her. She at one has a gentle demeanor and commitment to serving her clients well."
"Liz is one the great attorneys shaking things up here in Fairfax. I gladly endorse her."
"I've known Liz for several years now and can say without a doubt that she is an exceptional attorney. She is always well prepared and committed to a vigorous defense. She has the respect of the Commonwealth Attorneys and the Judges. We have represented co-defendants and I have seen her in action. You cannot go wrong with Liz as your lawyer."
"Liz is a highly skilled, well-regarded, and tenacious practitioner of the art of criminal and traffic defense. From early on she has impressed with her intuitive skill and tactical ability that lead her to excel as defense counsel. But one example of her performance as a lawyer included a recent published landmark appellate case wherein she properly and creatively preserved issues at trial for appeal and then successfully got the trial court's convictions of her client on firearms charges reversed. Liz by her example helps raise the bar of criminal and traffic defense practice in Virginia."
Paul Mickelsen
Criminal defense lawyer
Thomas Tousley
Immigration lawyer
Graziella Bianchi
Criminal defense lawyer
Garrett Green
Speeding and traffic ticket lawyer
Christopher Holley
Criminal defense lawyer
David Bernhard
Criminal defense lawyer
Experience
Honors
2023
Services Division Commander's Award, City of Falls Church Police Department
Work Experience
2025 - Present
Owner, Tuomey Law Firm, PLLC
2020 - 2025
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church
2013 - 2019
Owner, Tuomey Law Firm, PLLC
2011 - 2012
Partner, Clardy & Tuomey
Associations
2025 - Present
Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2008 - Present
Arlington Bar Association
2009 - 2019
Fairfax Bar Association
2006 - 2011
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
2005 - 2019
Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Sample of Legal Cases
Paiz v. Commonwealth
Trial court overturned
Henderson v. Commonwealth
New standard applicable to hearsay testimony at Probation Revocation Hearings
Education
2002
Georgetown University Law Center
JD - Juris Doctor
1999
Villanova University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2012
Pranks, Sins or Crimes? Teens and the Law
Juvenile Law
2011
Pranks, Sins, or Crimes? Teens and the Law
Juvenile Law
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
I was caught with less than 1 gram of Marihuana at the airport. What could happen?
07 Sep 2018
Q&A
Please help?
03 Sep 2018
Q&A
My Brother was charged with a felony when he was 22. He's 46 now and having a very hard time to find a job. Thank you Donna
20 Aug 2018