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Nicholas F Simopoulos

Education Attorney at Richmond, VA

5.0   46 reviews
Virtual consultation available
Virtual consultation available
  • State Years
    Dist. of Columbia - DC 16 years
    Virginia - VA 19 years
  • Licensed for 16 years
    State DC
    Acquired 2007
    Status
    Good Standing No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 19 years
    State VA
    Acquired 2004
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Nicholas

Learn Nicholas’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Education
    40%
    I assist students with all aspects of education, including but not limited to discipline, Title IX matters, IEPs, due process, tuition disputes, and grade appeals.

  2. Employment and labor
    40%
    I assist employees with all aspects of their employment, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, termination, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, Title VII, non-competes, contracts and severances, and aid due to the impact of the Coronavirus.

  3. Wrongful termination
    10%
    As part of my employment practice, I handle wrongful termination claims.

  4. Personal injury
    5%
    I handle personal injury claims as part of my practice, including for wrongful death, bullying, stalking, defamation, and assault and battery.

  5. Sexual harassment
    5%
    As part of my employment and education practices, I handle sexual assault and harassment claims.

DEDICATED TO DEFENDING AND PURSUING YOUR RIGHTS. EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

If you are looking for an attorney who handles education or employment matters, you have come to the right place.  Having received Avvo's Client Choice Award from 2020 to 2023, I am a highly-experienced federal and state litigator who practices education law and employment law throughout Virginia.  I focus my education law practice on all matters affecting students, including discipline, due process, disability and accommodations, Title IX, special education, and IEPs.  I focus my employment law practice on matters affecting employment, including job offers, compensation, wages, disability and accommodations, discrimination, sexual harassment, termination, retaliation, contracts, non-compete and other restrictive covenant agreements, and severances.  Over the years, I have successfully advised and represented hundreds of employees and students to not only know their legal rights but to also defend them.  For all of my clients, I provide personalized attention and cost-effective legal services.  With nearly two decades of in-the-trenches experience, I make protecting your rights my mission.  Don’t suffer an injury in silence or feel you are alone.  Contact me for an initial consultation of your case.  The best and quickest way to reach me directly is through my website's contact us form or by sending me an email directly.

Awards

Client's Choice 2023,2022,2021,2020
Client's Choice
2023 2022 2021 + 1 ...

Contact Nicholas

Simopoulos Law, PLLC
406 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA, 23220

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  46 customer reviews
5 Star
 
100%
4 Star
 
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Client's Choice 2023
Client's Choice
Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.
Posted by Veronica | September 21, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Legal Elite
I cannot give enough accolades regarding the manner in which Mr. Simopoulos handled my case. Not only is he well versed in the law, but what sets him above many attorneys is the personable, caring manner in which he handled my case from start to finish. Also, when his results exceeded my expectations, my already elevated opinion for his skills was further heightened. As a colleague, I do not use the term "legal elite" loosely; but I unequivocally put Mr. Simopoulos in this category.
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Posted by Davida | February 1, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Grateful for his guidance and assistance
Nick was highly recommended by another parent from my child's Catholic school in Richmond. We needed an attorney versed in civil rights and education to right a wrong we experienced. This was the 1st time I ever hired a lawyer and was not sure what to expect. He truly exceeded any expectations I had. He had experience with dealing with the Catholic Schools and thas was impressive. He always kept me abreast of my case and was easily accessible if I had questions. Nick called ne a few weeks after our case was completed, to follow up and to see how the kids were doing at school. He gave me great advice and guidance in dealing with this school in the future. He definitely is empathetic and genuinely concerned. I consider him to be "my" lawyer.
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Posted by anonymous | September 11, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Fantastic Attorney
I have been working with Attorney Simopoulos for some time now and he has gone above and beyond. He has always been available to answer my questions and made me feel comfortable when I was extremely stressed. I have received nonstop support, expert guidance, and professionalism. I know Attorney Simopoulos will do whatever it takes to assist his client in getting the best outcome.
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Posted by Eddie | August 17, 2023
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Great service
Outstanding consultation on Title IX questions. Pertaining to girls high school athletics. Thank you .
Posted by anonymous | July 11, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent Attorney
A friend recommended Nick to consult on an employment contract. Our initial conversation allowed me to ask all the right questions. Nick was exceptional in handling my legal issues quickly and efficiently to a good conclusion. I highly recommend him and will call him again if the need arises.
Response from Nicholas Simopoulos July 19, 2023
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We strive to provide excellence in our employment law services, and I am very happy to see we not only met our objective but served you well. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you ever need assistance again and we will be more than happy to serve you again!
Posted by Sarah | March 31, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Workplace Harassment Case
I reached out to Nick with a peculiar situation regarding a student harassing me and an institution that was unwilling to step in. I wanted to take a more conservative approach regarding the situation, as I had hoped to retain a good relationship with my (now previous) employer. Ultimately we ended up filing a case and settling in pre-trial negotiations. Nick was a solid person to work with who showed empathy and tact with how we approached the situation.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos July 19, 2023
Thank you for trusting our firm to assist you in your complex and unique employment case. Every case is different and requires a different approach. We strive to not only provide excellence in our services but also a personalized approach. I am happy with the result of your discrimination case and that together we achieved success!
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Posted by Helen | January 3, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Assistant Principal
Mr. Nick Simopoulos represented me in an employment dispute involving my demotion from assistant principal of a middle school to a classroom teacher position. I was given no warning, or a reason this happened by the school board. I held my administrative position for 14 years and never had a letter in my file, or a complaint brought against me by any administrator in the county. Due to my age being close to retirement and wanting to preserve the reputation of a younger administrator, I believe they used me as a scapegoat, fired me from my administrative job, and demoted me back to a classroom position. The superintendent thought I would just accept this and go away. Nick did an excellent job presenting my case for age related discrimination and wrongful demotion. He worked diligently to get me a favorable settlement, which turned out to be a positive outcome for me.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos January 16, 2023
Thank you very much for this kind review. Employers are more than happy to use the leverage they have, unfairly so, against even their best employees. Kudos for asserting your employment rights, Helen, and allowing me to assist you in this most important task. I wish you and your family all of the best!
Posted by anonymous | December 5, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Consultation for Special Education services
We are in a current IEP battle with our public school and needed to understand if the services and accommodations we are seekin are reasonable and what to do if we continued to be denied/strung along. Mr. Simopoulos gave us critical information on relevant laws/acts that helped add gravitas to our IEP meeting. If you are not sure if the school system is doing a disservice to your child, call him.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos January 16, 2023
Thank you for trusting me with what I feel is one of the most important things in life - the education law rights of children, who are so vulnerable, and their future. I wish you all of the best and it was a pleasure working with you.
Posted by Michelle | December 2, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Education Lawyer in VA
Nick was the best attorney in education law. He is very passionate on education also. When I hired Nick I knew I was in great hands. I trusted him and felt like he was family more than a lawyer. Great advocate for his clients and he always kept in the loop of what was going on. Nick has my vote as the best education lawyer in VA. He provided wonderful service and I wouldn't change anything about his service or the case outcome. Thank you for advocating for my son Nick :)
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos January 16, 2023
Michelle, thank you for this review and your thoughtfulness. I am happy we achieved a positive result in your education law dispute. We just needed to hold the establishment's feet to the fire to ensure justice. I wish you and your wonderful family the best in 2023!
Posted by Ashley | November 28, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Call Nicholas!
Nicholas provided a free phone consultation. I initially contacted him after hours and had a phone consultation the next morning. He was very knowledgeable on employment law and gave me his professional opinion on the information I provided to him. I would definitely seek out his services in the future.
Response from Nicholas Simopoulos November 29, 2022
Thank you for your kind review! It was my pleasure to talk with you, and I wish you all the best in this situation.
Posted by anonymous | November 11, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Consultation
Good, informative consultation through VA State Bar Referral Service. Always nice to have lawyers who answer your questions and respond in a timely manner. Sincere lawyer.
Response from Nicholas Simopoulos November 29, 2022
Communication and promptness simply matter when it comes to lawyers. Thank you for your thoughtful review. I appreciate it!
Posted by Brooke | August 12, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Title IX
Nick is kind, attentive, and very knowledgeable. He helped represent during a difficult situation with timely responses, helpful guidance, and thorough work, and ultimately, played a crucial role in receiving a positive outcome. If you’re in a situation to need a lawyer, you want someone who is not only experienced and effective, but also communicative and compassionate. Nick was both from the very start of working with him, and for these reasons, I would highly recommend him to anyone.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos August 31, 2022
Brooke, thank you for allowing me the honor and privilege to represent you. I understand that legal matters are often highly personal for my clients, so I strive for a balance of being as aggressive as possible on their behalf yet as caring and supporting as possible. I am so happy together we achieved a very positive outcome and am grateful for your kind review.
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Posted by anonymous | July 17, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Protecting students rights
For my first time ever dealing with a lawyer I could not have asked for a better experience. Being a busy grad student, Nicholas was not only very patient but would be constantly in touch with me through out my process. After wrongfully being accused of academic misconduct I thought that the truth would be enough to explain my situation to the university. However I have since realized that the University is not there to help the student but rather to trap them. It is for situations like this that I am grateful for having the privilege to work with Nicholas. Nicholas was very passionate about helping me and even other students get justice. After explaining to him my exact situation he worked diligently on my behalf. He was very easy to reach and talk to. As a student I was able be my self around Nicholas and express exactly how I felt. Any college or professional student in the state of VA and DC should have this mans information readily available!
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos August 31, 2022
Thank you so much for your kind review. I understand that colleges and universities have so much leverage against students and also the grave imbalance in the relationship. I strive to bring balance to that relationship when colleges and universities overstep to the detriment of student rights. It was a true privilege to represent you in your Virginia education law case; thank you for that opportunity.
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Posted by Kelvin | June 13, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly recommend!
Mr. Simopoulos is not your everyday attorney he will keep you up to date at all times. You will never have to worry about how your case is going. When there are times that he needs to speak to you about a important matter he will give you a heads up email to let you know that he will be calling you. He is not your attorney that will try to get you to settle for a quick dollar, Mr. Simopoulos will look out for your best interest and get you the most that he can. I work with Mr. Simopoulos for almost a year on my case where other attorneys would have tried to get you to take a small offer so that they could get paid and move on to there next case Mr. Simopoulos will tell you straight up front that he could get your more. You would be hard press to find a better attorney like that.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos June 14, 2022
Kelvin, thank you for your very kind words. It was a distinct privilege to represent you through your difficult situation, and I am grateful for having had that opportunity.
Posted by anonymous | June 10, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Helped with work place harassment and related issues
A friend recommended speaking to Nick after I experienced workplace harassment. After the harassment, I was in an emotionally vulnerable place. When I first talked to Nick, it was an extremely helpful and validating experience. I always felt very comfortable sharing all the delicate details. He was attentive and gave excellent legal advice and had genuine suggestions that made sense for my career and future. He guided me to effectively interact with HR. He wrote a very strong letter about releasing me from my non-compete obligations. He advocated on my behalf with expertise, and he is a great attorney to have when you are going through a tough time. I highly recommend Nick and he can help you if you are experiencing workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation issues.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos June 14, 2022
Thank you so much for this thoughtful review of my legal services. As a Virginia employment lawyer, I sadly have seen too many overreaching and unfair situations in our local workplaces, and, therefore, I strive each day to fight this imbalance and inequity and make it clear they are unwelcome and will not be tolerated. I am grateful to have had the chance to fight for you here and that you trusted my firm to do so.
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Posted by Christine | April 27, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Employment Law
Mr. Simopoulos was very kind, patient, and attentive during the review of my case. He was knowledgeable about employment law and processes, and specifically, disability and ADA. He gave honest and thoughtful advice on how to proceed with my case. After calling many lawyers, he was the most prompt in responding to my inquiry, and was timely in making an appointment to discuss my case.
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos August 31, 2022
Christine, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review your case and trusting my assessment. I strive to give every employment law matter my absolute attention, as I know the importance these matters have for my clients. I wish you all of the best!
Posted by anonymous | April 25, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Compassionate, Professional Consultation
Nicholas Simopoulos provided me with expert legal advice on an issue I was having with my employer. Mr. Simopoulos took the time to walk me through potential outcomes and recommended options for my response to unfair treatment. He carries my highest recommendation.
Response from Nicholas Simopoulos August 31, 2022
Thank you! It is a pleasure to help employees with their employment law issues, and I am grateful you gave me that opportunity and trusted my firm to help. I wish you all of the best!
Posted by anonymous | April 1, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
1st and 14th amendment case
Nick is incredibly professional and passionate about his legal cases. He was a consistent and clear communicator. Nick made sure I was informed and educated with every step in the process and in handling of my case. He had my full confidence the entire way, and rightly so given the outcome of my case! 10 out of 10 would recommend!
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Response from Nicholas Simopoulos August 31, 2022
Thank you for the opportunity to handle your case and the trust you placed in me. I take nothing more seriously in my employment law practice than that I have my clients' trust and that my clients not only have a highly professional experience but also are always informed on where their case is. And what a great outcome we achieved together!
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Posted by anonymous | March 22, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Dr.
Nicholas was very flexible to work with. I appreciated how he was easy to speak with and thoughtfully listened to all of my thoughts/concerns.
Posted by Martha | March 1, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Defending and Protecting Students’ Rights
I always appreciated Nick’s prompt responses and personal attention to all our questions. Nick is a very busy professional but always took the time to keep in touch and made us feel special. His modesty made it easy for us to relate to him. Nick is honest and dependable, and his legal expertise in the field of education and all related matters are outstanding. Nick’s priority is his client’s well being, not only legally but personal as well. May Nick be successful in all and every case to defend and protect student’s rights.
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Cost

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Adjunct Professor
  • College of William & Mary Law School
  • 2013 - Present
  • Manager of the General Civil Litigation & Trial Unit
  • Office Of The Virginia Attorney General
  • 2015 - 2018

Education

  • George Mason University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2004
  • University of Virginia
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1999

Associations

  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
  • Member
  • 2018 - Present
  • Museum District Association
  • Board Member and Liaison to the City of Richmond
  • 2018 - 2020

Languages Spoken

  • Greek
  • English

Honors and Awards

  • 10 Best Employment Lawyers in Richmond, Virginia
  • Expertise.com
  • 2023
  • #1 of Top 10 Best Employment Lawyers in Richmond
  • LegalDirectorate.com
  • 2023
  • Legal Elite for Civil Litigation
  • Virginia Business Magazine
  • 2022
  • Top 11 Best Richmond Employment Lawyers
  • Expertise.com
  • 2022
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • National Trial Lawyers Association
  • 2022
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • University of Virginia
  • 1999
View all awards

Publications

  • The Journal of Civil Litigation, VADA
  • The Virginia Good Samaritan Statute, Code § 8.01-225: Some Good Deeds Should Go Unpunished
  • 2014
  • The Journal of Civil Litigation, VADA
  • The Virginia Business Conspiracy Act: is a Criminal Conviction a Prerequisite to a Civil Action for Treble Damages?
  • 2010
  • The Journal of Civil Litigation, VADA
  • The Inadmissibility of Private Rules in a Negligence Action
  • 2009
  • The Whisper, DRI
  • A Successor Corporation’s Liability for Punitive Damages
  • 2008
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Spring 2023 Semester
  • Advanced Legal Practice and Writing Professor
  • 2023
  • OAG Annual Education Section Conference
  • Troubling Lessons Learned from Recent Title IX Litigation
  • 2018
  • OAG Education Conference
  • What’s in a Title? Some Helpful OAG Considerations in Title VII and Title IX Litigation
  • 2015
  • Virginia Department of Transportation Conference
  • Sovereign Immunity and the Virginia Tort Claims Act
  • 2015
  • Crisis Intervention Training
  • Civil Liability and Qualified Immunity
  • 2015
  • A Day in the Life of Litigators
  • A Day in the Life: Litigators
  • 2009
  • LGA Annual Conference
  • From Vine to Bar, Cultivating Newcomers to Local Government Practice: A Sweeping Overview of Local Government Issues and Practice
  • 2009
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (2)
Given (3)
Endorse Nicholas
Unknown Attorney | Jul 14
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Nick and I have a client in common. We have joined forces to assist our mutual client, and because of this I've been able to witness his impressive legal knowledge and skill firsthand. I fully endorse this lawyer as a reputable and honorable attorney whom clients can trust."
Unknown Attorney | Apr 11
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I’ve known Nick for a long time and had the privilege of working with him at the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. I have watched Nick practice law and have witnessed his legal skills first hand. He is a highly skilled litigator and is equally lethal in the appellate setting. He’s one of the best I’ve seen. Anytime I have an issue arise in the context of federal practice, Nick is the first attorney I turn to for wise counsel. He is truly a great mentor to me, I know his clients love him, and he’s one of the most capable lawyers I know. I am proud to endorse Nick."
Workers compensation
Criminal defense
Richmond Education Lawyer Nicholas F Simopoulos
Nicholas F Simopoulos
Education Attorney
Richmond, VA
Licensed for 19 years
Virtual consultation available