Simopoulos Law PLLC Virginia Education and Employment Attorney

01/17/2025

Consistency, fairness, and common-sense are three concepts that should factor into any K-12 school policy that bans students from using their cell phones on campus. I was happy to speak with the American Bar Association's Journal on this novel issue in the world of education law. You may check out the ABA article here:

At least eight states now have policies banning or restricting cellphones in classrooms, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report published in September 2024. (Image from Shutterstock)

06/25/2024

Employees beware! Yesterday, the Virginia Court of Appeals held in the attached published opinion that the one-year statute of limitations for you to file a termination of employment lawsuit under Virginia's anti-retaliation or whistleblower protection statute starts to run from the time your employer notifies you of your termination, NOT from the date of your actual termination. This is important because if the statute of limitations expires, you lose your right to file a lawsuit under this statute. So, days matter, and knowledge is everything. If you have been notified of or are the victim of a termination (or any other adverse employment action), be smart and be sure to consult with a knowledgeable employment lawyer. Your case may depend on it.

05/03/2024

I am honored to be recognized as a Super Lawyer for my Virginia Schools and Education Law practice. A big thank you to my colleagues for nominating me for this wonderful recognition. I look forward to another terrific year of working with you.

Simopoulos Law is a law firm in Richmond, VA with 1 attorneys selected to the Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.

02/23/2024

It was a pleasure to appear on VPM News and interview with Keyris Manzanares about the First Amendment in the education context. As we know, the First Amendment protects individuals from the government's impermissible regulation of speech. But did you also know that the First Amendment generally does not regulate the government's own speech? In this case, the speech is the government's display of a confederate flag on school property. Check out the story here:

Public schools have been treading a fine line when it comes to freedom of speech and historic symbols.

02/07/2024

It was an honor to speak today at the General Assembly on behalf of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Assocation, myself, and countless unprotected Virginians concerning Senate Bill No. 570. This important bill, which was successfully reported 14-0, serves several necessary purposes, including to waive sovereign immunity under the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) for claims of employment discrimination against the government. Anti-discrimination laws, here the VHRA, cannot discriminate in application but must apply equally and fairly to all, here Virginians, irrespective of who their employers may be.

12/10/2023

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly significantly increased the legal rights of employees in Virginia as against their employers. Specifically, it created for employees a right to sue their employers for damages in state court and under a state, not federal, law, for all claims of discrimination in the workplace. However, this new law is evolving, and the devil is lurking in the details. We recently wrote an article on this issue which we are pleased to announce was published in the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association's journal. Check the article out at the link below and know your rights. Make no mistake - hiring an experienced and smart employment lawyer may be one of the most important decisions you have to make. We are here to make the decision easy for you. https://www.vtla.us/2023/Journal/Vol_30_No_1/simopoulos-VHRA.pdf

12/02/2023

At Simopoulos Law, we are dedicated to representing and fighting for individual employees who have been wronged in their employment. On this note, I just want to thank my colleagues who thought enough of me (and this firm) to nominate me to Virginia Business Magazine's 2024 Legal Elite list for Labor / Employment Law. I am humbled by this recognition and to have my name appear with the names of some other awesome and talented Virginia lawyers.

Christopher A. Abel Willcox & Savage, Norfolk Faith A. Alejandro Sands Anderson, Richmond Matthew T. Anderson Williams Mullen, Richmond Zev Hillel Antell Butler Curwood, Richmond Robert J. Barry Kaufman &…

06/30/2023

I am honored to announce that Legal Directorate has selected Simopoulos Law, PLLC to the Best of 2023 for Richmond Labor and Employment Law Firms. This selection is particularly humbling. Representing individuals at oftentimes their lowest points in life and against large corporations, governments, and institutions is by no means an easy task. Yet, it is a task we gladly accept, and we strive to perform it with passion and excellence. Our clients, colleagues, and the public deserve no less. See the rankings here:

The definitive list of the best Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Law specialists serving Richmond as rated by your local community. Get free custom quotes and pick the right pro.

04/06/2023

I truly enjoy practicing education law and was privileged to contribute to this new treatise, “Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition.” The authors, Peter and Pamela Wright, are pioneers in the field of special education law and have just released it. This publication is one of a kind and includes extensive and unique analysis, commentary, and insight on the education laws affecting students of all ages, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It was a great honor for me to have assisted the Wrights with and contributed to this release. You can check out this publication and other one of a kind works of the Wrights at the link below:

https://www.wrightslaw.com/bks/selaw3/selaw3.htm.

02/25/2023

Simopoulos Law is pleased to announce that Expertise.com has named the firm to 2023's 10 Best Employment Lawyers in Richmond, Virginia. https://www.expertise.com/va/richmond/employment-lawyers. Being on this list is an honor and humbling. We thank all of our wonderful colleagues and clients and, of course, family and friends, for their support and for helping the firm successfully grow over the past five years.

Find and connect with the 10 Best Employment Lawyers in Richmond. Hand picked by an independent editorial team and updated for 2022.

01/20/2023

Parents take note. When it comes to fighting for the special education needs of your children, you can't be too careful. The devil lurks in the details. At least this is one takeaway from a recent decision of the Fourth Circuit under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"). In short, the IDEA is the federal education law that secures the right of disabled children to obtain a free and appropriate public education and, in that context, allows parents to file a civil action in federal court for violations of the same. But, parents must be sure to appropriately follow the administrative process before going to court. In K.I. v. Durham Public Schools Board of Education, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a parent's action, in which the parent had claimed her autistic child was denied special education services. No. 20-1834 (4th Cir. Dec. 5, 2022). The reason? Even though the parent filed her notice of appeal timely and in the correct state administrative office, she did not copy the state education board's designee on the notice. Seems like a trivial procedural requirement, right? Well, it may very well have been, but it was also enough to lose the case. And, now, the child suffers from it. Please be sure you discuss your children's special education rights with an education lawyer before you face that devil.

12/06/2022

I just wanted to say thank you to all of my colleagues who thought enough of me to nominate me for Virginia Business Magazine's 2022 Legal Elite for Civil Litigation. I am humbled to have been selected for inclusion to such a list and have my name appear next to some absolutely awesome and talented Virginia attorneys.