Arlington and Alexandria have a workforce unlike most of Virginia. Thousands of residents work for federal agencies or the contractors that support them, while others work for private employers in Crystal City, Ballston, and Old Town. When a job problem turns into a legal one, the rules that apply depend a great deal on who signs your paycheck. This guide covers five employment law firms that people in Northern Virginia often consider, starting with Mundaca Law, and walks through the deadlines and questions that matter when you choose an attorney.
Which Employment Attorneys Serve Arlington and Alexandria?
- Mundaca Law
- Berry & Berry, PLLC
- Cantrell Schuette
- Law Offices of William Aramony
- Corey Pollard Law
Each firm is covered below, with more detail on the first.
1. Mundaca Law
Mundaca Law is an employment and business litigation firm that represents employees across Virginia, including Arlington, from its office in Tysons. The firm is led by Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq., Founding Partner, and it cites more than sixteen years of courtroom experience behind its practice.
On the employment side, the firm handles wrongful termination, retaliation, and sexual harassment claims, along with discrimination based on age, disability, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. It also reviews and negotiates severance agreements and advises on non-compete agreements. Both issues come up often when someone leaves a Northern Virginia contractor to join a competitor.
How Does Mundaca Law Help Federal Employees in Arlington?
Federal workers follow a separate process from private-sector employees, and Mundaca Law handles federal sector employment matters. A federal employee who believes they faced discrimination generally must contact an agency EEO counselor within 45 calendar days of the incident, under EEOC regulations at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105. Certain serious adverse actions, such as a removal, can instead be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board, usually within 30 days of the effective date. Those windows are short. For anyone working at the Pentagon, the Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, or another nearby agency, getting advice early can protect options that would otherwise disappear.
What If My Employer Is a Private Company?
Private-sector employees in Virginia generally have 300 days from the discriminatory act to file a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Virginia Human Rights Act, expanded by the Virginia Values Act in 2020, provides a state-law path as well, and some of its protections reach smaller employers than federal law does. Unlawful discharge claims under the Act, for example, can apply to employers with more than five employees. Mundaca Law can look at your facts and explain whether a state claim, a federal claim, or both may be available.
Consultations can be scheduled by phone or video through the firm’s website.
2. Berry & Berry, PLLC
Berry & Berry, PLLC is a law firm that handles employment-related matters in the Washington, D.C. region. Its website is the best place to confirm current practice areas and whether it accepts cases like yours.
3. Cantrell Schuette
Cantrell Schuette is another firm Northern Virginia residents may come across when looking for help with a workplace dispute. Contact the office directly to ask what kinds of employment matters it takes on.
4. Law Offices of William Aramony
The Law Offices of William Aramony practices in the employment law field in the greater D.C. area. Prospective clients can reach out to learn more about its approach and availability.
5. Corey Pollard Law
Corey Pollard Law works on employment matters in the region. As with any attorney, ask about fit and fees before you commit.
What Should You Ask Before Hiring an Employment Lawyer in Northern Virginia?
Start by asking whether the attorney regularly handles your specific type of claim. A federal employee facing a proposed removal needs someone comfortable with MSPB procedure, while a contractor employee fighting a non-compete needs someone who knows Virginia’s restrictions on those agreements, including the state ban on non-competes for lower-wage workers under Va. Code § 40.1-28.7:8.
Ask how fees work. Some employment cases are taken on contingency, meaning the lawyer is paid a percentage of any recovery. Others, like severance negotiations or contract reviews, are often billed hourly or at a flat rate.
Bring documents to your first meeting. Offer letters, performance reviews, relevant emails or texts, and any termination or severance paperwork help an attorney give you a realistic read quickly.
If you have been handed a severance agreement and you are 40 or older, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act generally gives you at least 21 days to consider it when it waives age discrimination claims (45 days in a group layoff), plus 7 days to revoke after signing. That time is meant for getting advice, so use it.
Acting Early Makes the Difference
Employment claims in Arlington and Alexandria often turn on timing as much as on the facts. Federal deadlines can run in as little as 30 or 45 days, and even the longer private-sector windows pass faster than most people expect while they are job hunting or still working under a difficult manager. If something at work does not sit right, write down what happened while it is fresh, gather your paperwork, and talk with an employment attorney before you sign anything or miss a filing date.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
