Jessica N. Carmichael

Bottom line up front: I faced two very serious misdemeanor charges stemming from a toxic romantic relationship that threatened to upend my future. Jessica got the prosecutor and judge to drop BOTH charges despite long odds and a mercurial, hostile plaintiff. She literally saved me, allowing me t...o close an awful chapter in my life and granting me a new lease on life. I'm a discerning customer on all matters and was not going to settle for less than the best when it came to my criminal defense (a position i never imagined i would find myself in). So i thoroughly researched Fairfax Country criminal lawyers and ultimately choose Jessica based on her stellar reputation and my in person consultation with Jessica. I picked her over other outstanding lawyers because I believed she had the perfect combination of intellect, experience, passion, and hunger. Jessica, it seemed to me, would work tirelessly and relentlessly to defend me. She did not disappoint. When we met before my court appearance, she was even more prepared than I anticipated, and my expectations were already high. Not only did she have plans for several contingencies, but she had done so much research on legal precedents that i think she probably knew more about the charges and laws they were predicated upon than the prosecutor and judge combined. But preparation and research are one thing, execution on the field of battle often a different matter. Once again, Jessica did not disappoint. She is a born leader who handled multiple fronts--the police detective, the prosecutor, the volatile plaintiff--with a poise and dexterity indicative of a seasoned commander. She was General Patton at Normandy, cool-under-fire and undaunted by whatever challenges arose. Another thing that i felt really set Jessica apart from other attorneys was her emotional intelligence. i consulted A LOT of great lawyers before choosing a defense attorney, because my future literally hung in the balance. Many of them were clearly competent but did not know how to connect with clients emotionally, a pretty essential requirement for a defense attorney given the anxiety that legal charges generate and sustain in defendants. Jessica consistently said the right thing to me, with the right delivery, at the right moment. When a client needs reassurance, she provides that. When a client needs tough love, she delivers that too. She intuitively senses when a given approach is needed and she efficiently chooses from her toolkit like Steven Spielberg chooses camera lenses and angles for great cinematic effect. Except this is real, not fiction. This is your life with real consequences, not Hollywood....and Jessica understands that and brings a relentless dedication to ensure you get through the adversity as unscathed as possible. Whatever Jessica may give up in experience to lawyers with decades of courtroom experience she makes up for and then some with sheer talent, intuition, and hard work. I honestly felt at times that she had eyes in the back of her head and was doing multiple tasks at once, and with lethal effect. Jessica is extraordinary charming, but equally tough and tenacious. When her natural charm and compelling logic don't carry the day, you will see a flash of ferocity in her that is as impressive as it is measured. Jessica is the whole package, truly. Before i break into a sonnet about her, i will conclude with this: My day in court was EXTREMELY stressful and i really couldn't imagine leaving court that day in anything other than a downcast mood. As i played it out in my head beforehand, even the best case scenario of having the charges dropped would have left the bitter residue that there were charges to begin with. But Jessica somehow made the experience cathartic, even triumphant. I hope to God i never have to go through that again, but if ever do, Jessica Carmichael is the first person I'm going to call.

After meeting with other lawyers about my DUI case, I knew that Jessica had my best interest at heart the first time I met her. I hired her after our first meeting and she went right to work filing motions after motions in my case. Every time I talked or met with her she was frank and forthright with... my case and gave me all my options and possible outcomes. She never tried to undercoat anything and this allowed me to mentally prepare for whatever possibility might happen. The day before the trial we got offered a plea to a wet reckless due to Jessica's hard work defending the truth and my rights. She was a pleasure to work with and always contacted my back within one business day. A true professional, I recommend her wholeheartedly.

I called Jessica Carmichael's law firm in a panic about my daughter's arrest on a probation violation and they were there for me immediately. I cannot say enough about the expertise and professionalism of this attorney. She did an excellent job, explained everything along the way and got results that... we are thrilled about.

We were referred to Jessica for assistance with our case through another lawyer. Our case was very complex. My husband had accepted a plea deal that affected his ability to file for immigration relief. From the moment we contacted the office the staff made us feel comfortable with our decision to s...eek an 2nd opinion. Jessica filed a motion to reconsider to withdrawal my husband's guilty plea due to insufficient advised from our previous lawyer, on the immigration consequences accepting a plea deal. Jessica kept us informed throughout the process and fought endlessly in court for us. Through her hard work we were granted motion to reconsider and my husband's guilty plea was withdrawn. Not only was the plea withdrawn the court allowed my husband to change his plea to not guilty and keep the disposition of the original plea in which charges will eventually be dismissed. We own this all attorney Jessica and her staff. Thank you ladies for all your help!

I retained Jessica after my first attorney completely botched my trial for a DUI, he didn't present evidence which could have changed the outcome. He also didn't challenge the officer refusing to give me the chemical test. Never the less I decided to appeal my case and I knew going in that it wou...ld be unlikely that Jessica could undo the mess my first attorney created at trial. Regardless, Jessica went above and beyond to try and fix things and kept me informed every step of the way. Unfortunately the Judge who convicted me was not interested in seeing the evidence my first attorney should have presented at trial, and denied my motion for a new trial. Lesson learned, be careful who you chose to represent you. I am 100% certain if Jessica would have represented me in this matter initially I would have been found innocent on all counts. Therefore I highly recommend Jessica and would use her again if I found myself needing an attorney in the future.