State Years

Dist. of Columbia - DC 16 years

Virginia - VA 18 years
Licensed for 16 years

State DC

Acquired 2007

Status
Good Standing No misconduct found
Licensed for 18 years

State VA

Acquired 2004

Status
Active No misconduct found

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

Nicholas F Simopoulos

Education Attorney at Richmond, VA

About
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Reviews
Cost
Resume

Legal Elite

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.

About Nicholas

Learn Nicholas’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

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.
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.
... Read more
Wrongful termination

10%

As part of my employment practice, I handle wrongful termination claims.
Personal injury

5%

I handle personal injury claims as part of my practice, including for wrongful death, bullying, stalking, defamation, and assault and battery.
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 + 1 ...

Contact Nicholas

Simopoulos Law, PLLC

(804) 220-1972 Office

406 West Franklin Street

Richmond, VA, 23220

simopouloslaw.com

Message Get Directions

Reviews

Write A Review

5.0 / 5.0

46 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

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

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

Grateful for his guidance and assistance

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Posted by anonymous | September 11, 2023

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

Great service

Outstanding consultation on Title IX questions. Pertaining to girls high school athletics. Thank you .

Posted by anonymous | July 11, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephen Forbes

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."

Christopher Pitera

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."

Stephen Forbes

Workers compensation

Christopher Pitera

Unknown