also known as Paula R. Bernstein
Ms. Bernstein Hough graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Law. Upon her graduation, Ms. Bernstein Hough worked for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association prior to her entering the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. While in law school, Ms. Bernstein Hough was awarded the “Eleanor & James Clanton Haynes Memorial Law and Public Policy” fellowship, was a Senior Editor for a Law Journal, and volunteered for the Innocence Project investigating a case of wrongful conviction. During law school, Ms. Bernstein Hough also worked full-time as the Information Specialist for The Death Penalty Information Center where she delivered presentations about capital punishment to state, national and international organizations and even provided expert testimony before the Judiciary Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates. She graduated from the Columbus School of Law cum laude in 2002. Ms. Bernstein Hough joined the Fairfax County Public Defender’s Office in 2003 where she zealously represented clients charged with everything from Reckless Driving and Driving While Intoxicated to abduction, rape and murder. Ms. Bernstein Hough was promoted to the position of Senior Assistant Public Defender, where she continued handling serious felonies in addition to training and supervising less experienced attorneys. Ms. Bernstein Hough joined the Gordon Law Firm in 2007 where she took the responsibility of opening the firm’s Central Virginia office. In 2009 she opened her own law practice, Brisendine, Overand, Buster and Bernstein, P.C. In 2012 Mrs. Bernstein Hough was admitted into the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia. After the birth of their first child in 2010, Ms. Bernstein Hough left her firm to join her husband at the Law Office of Gregory R. Hough, which they later re-named BernsteinHough, P.C.
4
Practice Areas
23 years
23 years
18 years
Sometimes
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Chat withState: Virginia
Acquired: 2002
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4110 East Parham Road, Suite 201, Henrico, VA, 23228
Showing 1 - 5 of 56 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Matthew | January 13, 2026 | Hired Attorney
I highly recommend Ms Paula Bernstein Hough as an Attorney she is a small statue build woman but when it comes to fighting criminal cases she is just as bigger than and has a heart of a lion, and you know how it comes to the legal system when they say no news is good news well she show that was compl...
Posted by Devan | September 17, 2024 | Hired Attorney
I very highly recommend Bernstein Hough PC and in particular Paula Hough for your legal needs, especially if you have a legal issue in Virginia but you live out-of-state. I really needed a lawyer I could depend on who could represent me in court on my behalf without me being present so that I would n...
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad things worked out well in your case (and that you didn't have to miss any work!).
Posted by Simon | September 13, 2024 | Hired Attorney
I recently had the pleasure of working with BernsteinHough, P.C. for a Reckless Driving charge, and I am extremely pleased with the outcome. Mr. Hough and Ms. Jennifer H. Jones provided outstanding representation, which resulted in my charge being reduced to a non-moving violation. Their expertise, p...
Thank you for your review. We know tickets can be stressful and we try to make things as easy as possible for our clients. So happy we were able to keep points off your record!
Posted by JS | August 6, 2024 | Hired Attorney
I recently had the pleasure of working with Paula Bernstein Hough on a traffic ticket case, and I am thrilled to share my experience. From the outset, Paula demonstrated exceptional professionalism, expertise, and dedication. She took the time to understand my situation thoroughly and provided clear,...
Thank you so much for your review and especially for your kind words about Jennifer. She works so hard for all of your clients and doesn't always get the recognition she deserves. I am so happy that we were able to secure a dismissal and keep this ticket off of your driving record!
Posted by anonymous | April 12, 2024 | Hired Attorney
Mrs. Hough did an amazing job representing me in court, and I am extremely grateful for BernsteinHough Law Firm for taking my case on a very short notice. She got my misdemeanor charge dismissed as long as I pay a small (<$100) court fee and complete 8hrs of an online driving school. Everyone I spoke...
I am so happy we were able to help keep this off of your record!
"I regularly see Paula in court trying cases. She is extremely knowledgeable of the law and zealous in her defense of her clients. She is one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the area, so I highly recommend Paula to anyone seeking an attorney."
"I have known Paula Bernstein for my entire legal career. She was first my supervisor when I was an intern, then later we worked together as public defenders. She has always been able to help me with difficult legal issues, negotiating strategies, and trial methods. I highly recommend Paula Bernstein to anyone looking for strong representation from an experienced lawyer."
Criminal defense lawyer
2002
Eleanor & James Clanton Haynes Law and Public Policy Fellowship, Columbus School of Law
2011 - Present
Partner, BernsteinHough, P.C.
2009 - 2011
President, Brisendine, Overand, Buster & Bernstein
2008 - 2010
Volunteer, Central Virginia Legal Aid
2007 - 2009
Attorney, The Gordon Law Firm
2003 - 2007
Senior Assistant Public Defender, Fairfax County Public Defender's Office
1998 - 2003
Information Specialist, Death Penalty Informaiton Center
2012 - Present
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of VirginiaAttorney
2008 - Present
Greater Richmond Criminal Bar AssociationMember
2008 - Present
Henrico County Bar AssociationMember
2019 - 2020
Greater Richmond Criminal Bar AssociationPresident
2018 - 2019
Richmond Criminal Bar AssociationVice Presidnet
2017 - 2018
Greater Richmond Criminal Bar AssociationTreasurer
2016 - 2017
Greater Richmond Criminal Bar AssociationSecretary
2002
JD - Juris Doctor
1995
Bachelor of Arts degree
2019
Do I have to be Civil?: Handling forfeiture, expungement, restoration of rights, and other civil matters that arise in criminal cases.
2017
Planning Committee-Bench Bar Conference
2001
English
Legal Answers
Do I need a lawyer for my first offense selling alcohol to a minor?
08 Sep 2018
Resolution for very first speeding ticket 58/45?
11 Sep 2018
Can I get my felony expunged after a plea deal?
08 Sep 2018