J Thomas Spiggle

J Thomas Spiggle

also known as Tom Spiggle

4.6
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 24 years

Wrongful termination Lawyer at Alexandria, VA
Practice Areas: Wrongful Termination, Employment & Labor, Discrimination ... +2 more

3601 Eisenhower Ave, Suite 425, Alexandria, VA

About J

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Wrongful Termination 30%

Representing employees fired in violation of state or federal law, including retaliation, discrimination, and contract breaches. We fight to recover lost wages, benefits, and damages for wrongfully terminated workers in VA, MD, and DC.

26 years | 200 cases

30%
Discrimination 25%

Representing employees facing workplace discrimination based on race, gender, pregnancy, age, disability, or national origin. We handle EEOC charges and litigation to protect your rights under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and state law.

26 years | 150 cases

25%
Employment and Labor 25%

Advocating for employees in workplace disputes involving wage theft, hostile work environments, FMLA violations, and employer misconduct. Experienced employment lawyers serving Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

26 years | 200 cases

25%
Sexual Harassment 15%

Helping employees who have experienced workplace sexual harassment, hostile work environments, or retaliation for reporting misconduct. We represent victims in VA, MD, and DC through EEOC complaints and civil litigation.

26 years | 150 cases

15%
Employee Benefits 5%

Advising employees on denied or improperly handled benefits, including FMLA leave, severance, health insurance, and retirement plans. We hold employers accountable when they fail to honor their legal obligations to workers.

26 years | 100 cases

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Sometimes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Virginia for 19 years

State: Virginia

Acquired: 2006

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in District of Columbia for 21 years

State: District of Columbia

Acquired: 2005

Good Standing

No misconduct found

Licensed in North Carolina for 24 years

State: North Carolina

Acquired: 2001

Active

No misconduct found

Location

The Spiggle Law Firm

3601 Eisenhower Ave, Suite 425, Alexandria, VA, 22304

The Spiggle Law Firm

1910 Towne Centre Blvd, Suite 250, Annapolis, MD, 21401

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J Thomas Spiggle's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.6 /5.0

32 Client Reviews

Posted by Nathan Bowen | February 27, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Unprofessional and a waste of money thus far

Based on my experience thus far (1month) I would encourage you to find another law firm, especially if you are looking for an urgent resolution and a a firm that is professional and transparent. I am extremely disappointed with the lack of transparency and communication. All the fears I had about usi...ng a lawyer have come to fruition - my lawyer appeared to a get a bigger case within days of signing the retainer and then nothing but delays for the last couple of weeks. A crucial document was completely missed for 8 days and the only reason they realized this was because, yet again, I was trying to follow-up and I brought it to their attention. All I wanted was for them to negotiate a severance and as of now they still haven’t even drafted a letter. But don’t worry you will get emails about bills (for what work?) When I did speak after pleading for an update the senior attorney (Louise Ryder) had forgotten crucial details of my case and re-visited details we had already discussed. I really want this relationship to work but it has added more stress to an already tenuous situation. I shouldn’t have to do the work my law firm should be doing - so much time wasted. I am now having to assess retaining a larger law firm where the senior lawyers have resources to handle more than one case at a time. I hope this helps. I will update as I go.

Posted by Bonnie | October 1, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

I wish my review could have been favorable

I wish my review could have been favorable however, Spiggle has made this impossible! The Spiggle Law Firm charges premium prices and provides substandard legal documents. On November 14, 2023, I hired and paid Spiggle $4,000.00 for the trust. They may have called me or emailed me three to four ti...mes between November through January, which I why I was confused when I was billed $2,000 on December 18, 2023, and another $2,000 on January 18, 2024. EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS between November and January and they had done nothing, except remind me to provide the information to file the charge. I provided the majority of the initial information, basically a brain dump, which was used in the initial charge. However, when Spiggle combined my document with their template, it appears they didn't include entire sentences, or they merged my sentences with theirs incorrectly, or merged/added sentences non-sequentially, resulting in a lack of flow, riddled with errors. That legal document was sent to EEOC. Fast forward to the rebuttal; I spent MY summer writing my rebuttal based on the voluminous template provided by Spiggle, and once again when Spiggle combined my document with theirs, it was a mess. I corrected the majority of the errors, others I pointed out to them when I returned the document; edits went back-and-forth a few times. As part of my exhibits I included personal videos, an extremely difficult decision to make, but Spiggle felt they were important as well. AFTER my rebuttal and exhibits were submitted to the EEOC, Spiggle then informed me that EEOC's portal couldn't handle the size of my videos. I cannot believe I'm the first of Spiggle's clients that this has happened to! Bottom line, my videos didn't accompany my rebuttal, although they were referenced throughout the rebuttal several times. Upon receiving a final copy of the rebuttal, needless to say, I was shocked to see that Spiggle referenced a different client/person by name in the body of my rebuttal letter, which was sent to the EEOC! In the meantime, I received an email reminding me of my signed agreement to keep $2K in the trust, it was at 0 balance, and I needed to replenish it immediately. I then learned that I was going to receive an invoice for approximately $6K. I requested an itemized invoice and a pause in billable hours while I reviewed the invoice. The invoice I received was not six thousand, but $7,007.00, and many line items listed countless hours of either drafting, reviewing, or revising the rebuttal, as well as several references regarding the video exhibits. This was very upsetting, not that I received an invoice, but by the excessive number of hours billed. The next business day, I received an email from Spiggle closing my case and providing me with an updated invoice, increasing the amount I owed. They close my case at an extremely sensitive and critical point in the process because I questioned their invoice! That certainly doesn't look or feel like the core values of Communicating with Compassion and Empathy. I will be filing a fee dispute through VA State Bar.

J Spiggle

Replied last October 2, 2024

There is another side to this story, but the Rules of Professional Responsibility prevent us from sharing it. Too bad, as your review is not an accurate reflection of the service we provide. We will note that the firm has never closed case simply because someone raised concerns about an invoice. To the contrary, we pride ourselves on transparent billing and welcome conversations with clients regarding questions about finances.

Posted by anonymous | August 9, 2022 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Peace of mind through excellent advice

My attorney at the Spiggle Law Firm helped me negotiate a dicey exit with my employer. She explained the steps along the way, and defined legal terms so I could make the right decision at critical points of the process. I would recommend the firm for anyone who needs advice about employment-related l...egal manners.

Posted by anonymous | July 7, 2022 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Successful Wrongful Termination Representation

The Spiggle Law firm successfully represented me in a wrongful termination dispute with my former employer. The firm and my attorneys were extremely professional, highly communicative, and overall did an excellent job. I would definitely recommend the firm.

Posted by anonymous | December 14, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Successful Religious Exemption & Accommodation

Once retained, the Spiggle Law firm was very responsive and provided me with specific and relevant input into my requests for a Religious Exemption and a Religious Accommodation. My employer initially approved my Religious Exemption, but verbally (and in writing) denied my Religious Accommodation re...quest. Once Spiggle Law Firm responded to the denial request, however, my Religious Accommodation request was granted.

See All Client Reviews

J Thomas Spiggle's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse J
Steven Charles Bergeron headshot
Steven Bergeron

Employment and labor lawyer | Jan 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is a top-flite employee's attorney. In him you'll find a vast knowledge of the law, a savvy understanding of the courts and commissions, and a dedication and diligence that make him a dogged advocate for his clients. I highly endorse Tom!"

Jacob Madison Small headshot
Jacob Small

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 08

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"When I first graduated law school, Tom taught me how to represent clients in employment law cases. When it comes to employment law, especially caregiver discrimination, I believe that Tom is top-notch."

Ian Andrew Cronogue headshot
Ian Cronogue

Employment and labor lawyer | May 24

Relationship: Friend

"Tom is the first person I call with an employment or EEOC related case. He's an expert in the employment law field and an invaluable resource for assessing how the various jurisdictions will view a case."

Jeffrey Alexander Hord headshot
Jeffrey Hord

Employment and labor lawyer | Sep 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is courteous, affable, and conscientious. I have referred matters to him in the past, and would not hesitate to do so again in the future. Highly recommended."

Joshua Harry Erlich headshot
Joshua Erlich

Employment and labor lawyer | Mar 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is knowledgeable, personable, and a talented attorney. I can endorse him without reservation."

Steven Andrew Krieger headshot
Steven Krieger

Employment and labor lawyer | Feb 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom was one of the first lawyers I met in the area. He's very knowledgeable in employment law matters, but also a very friendly and approachable individual, so he'd be great to work with."

Jon M Widrick headshot
Jon Widrick

Discrimination lawyer | Aug 13

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Having known and worked with Tom for many years, I can attest to his high level of professionalism as well as his personable nature. He gets great results for his clients."

Robert Sergio Brandt headshot
Robert Brandt

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is the first person that I call when I have a matter that involves employment law and I have referred him to potential clients as well. Besides his obvious knowledge of employment law, I have always found Tom to be a smart and decent human being. I am confident that you are in good hands with Tom in your corner."

Arden Briana Levy headshot
Arden Levy

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is a well-regarded lawyer in the community and is often the go-to lawyer for employment discrimination claims."

Matthew S. Black headshot
Matthew Black

Federal crime lawyer | Jul 11

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Tom is a personably and knowledgable in his field. I can endorse Tom without hesitation."

Howard Clay Hodges Jr. headshot
Howard Hodges

Employment and labor lawyer | Jun 28

Relationship: Co-worker

"Tom is honest, thorough, and relentless. He is one of the sharpest attorneys I know. We worked together at a well-regarded firm over a decade ago, and I have followed his career with great interest ever since. He is a great advocate for victims of employment discrimination."

S. Jamison Koehler headshot
S. Koehler

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom Spiggle is often the first person I call with a question on criminal law/procedure in D.C., Virginia or federal court. As a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, one of the top law schools in the country, Mr. Spiggle worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. He knows how things work from both ends of the table. He is smart and approachable, and completely committed to the best interests of his clients."

Matthew G Kaiser headshot
Matthew Kaiser

Litigation lawyer | Feb 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is exactly what a lawyer should be - he's diligent, compassionate and smart. He knows the law, but, as important, he knows how to work with people. I wholeheartedly endorse Tom."

View All Endorsements
Jacob Madison Small headshot
Jacob Small

Wrongful termination lawyer

Ian Andrew Cronogue headshot
Ian Cronogue

Government contracts lawyer

Joshua Harry Erlich headshot
Joshua Erlich

Unknown lawyer

Justin E Dillon headshot
Justin Dillon

White collar crime lawyer

Steven Andrew Krieger headshot
Steven Krieger

Litigation lawyer

Howard Clay Hodges Jr. headshot
Howard Hodges

Litigation lawyer

Jon M Widrick headshot
Jon Widrick

Business lawyer

Matthew S. Black headshot
Matthew Black

Business lawyer

Robert Sergio Brandt headshot
Robert Brandt

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Rebecca S Legrand headshot
Rebecca Legrand

Litigation lawyer

Keva McDonald headshot
Keva McDonald

Criminal defense lawyer

S. Jamison Koehler headshot
S. Koehler

Criminal defense lawyer

Matthew G Kaiser headshot
Matthew Kaiser

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2008

Distinguished Service in the Sex & Domestic Violence Unit, United States Attorney's Office District of Columbia

Work Experience

2007 - 2009

Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office District of Columbia

2004 - 2007

Associate, Janis, Schuelke & Wechsler

2003 - 2004

Law Clerk, Law Clerk, Honorable James E. Boasberg

2001 - 2003

Associate, Tharrington Smith

Associations

2005 - Present

Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court

Associate

2005 - Present

Metropolitian Washington Employment Lawyers Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Pamela Viers vs. U.S. Foods

Resolved after summary judgment arguments

Matarese v. Archstone Communities LLC

Prevailed on all counts at trial. Significant damages, including punitive damages

See More Legal Cases

Education

2001

Georgetown University Law Center

JD - Juris Doctor

1996

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

MA

1992

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

BS

Speaking Engagements

2011

PEATC Presents Topical Institute on School Discipline Student Suspensions

Publications

2014

2013

The Spiggle Law Firm Virginia Employment Lawyer Blog

2012

Self Publish Employment Law for Women

Languages

English

Spanish

Activity

Avvo Rating

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