Top Criminal Defense Lawyers in ZIP 20002 | 4 available

I think that one of the most important functions of any lawyer is to keep clients informed and aware of all developments in their cases.  I pride myself on being able to explain the most complicated legal concepts in a way that anyone can understand.  I return calls promptly and keep my clients informed of all developments in their cases.. I fight hard for all my clients.  Not all cases can be won, however, and not every defendant wants to fight the charges.  In those cases I believe that it is most important to get to know each client as an individual and to convey that understanding to the judge.  No one is defined by their worst acts.  I make sure to present a complete and well-rounded picture of the client so that the judge sees a complete human being and not just someone that made a bad choice.. I teach Evidence at American University Law School and am an instructor at the Harvard Law School trial advocacy workshop.. Outside of work I have a lot of cultural interests.  I am an avid theater-goer,  attend the ballet and concerts, watch sports, and spend a lot of time with my dog.

I have been an attorney since 2000.  I began practicing as a prosecutor in a jurisdiction where Jury trials are required for any amount of time in jail.  That is where I learned to litigate cases in detail.. Since 2011 I have been in Washington D.C. and am now owner of the law practice Not Guilty In DC; Law Offices of David Akulian.. As a criminal defense attorney I help people in many different types of cases.  From a simple suspended license case all the way to a serious white collar or even homicide case; I vigorously represent my clients' interests.

After graduating at the top of my class from Penn State, I attended Yale Law School. I was then selected from among other Yale Law graduates for a Liman Fellowship, which funded my work in the Supreme Court and Appellate Program at the MacArthur Justice Center. I left MacArthur in 2023 to found Bernicker Law.. In my transactional and advisory practice, I have assisted startups, small businesses, and nonprofits with a range of matters, including incorporation, mergers & acquisitions, trademark clearance & registration, and data privacy. I have also advised individuals, including professional athletes in the United States and England, on immigration, estate planning, and tax matters.. As a litigator, I have tried criminal cases, represented tort and housing discrimination plaintiffs, and handled civil and criminal appeals in state and federal courts across the country.. I am licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia and to represent people before federal agencies, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, and Sixth Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. I am also qualified to advise clients on English law.. In addition to practicing law, I run a startup that is creating a collaborative legal writing platform for lawyers. I previously developed custom software tools for other legal services providers, including a tool that uses AI to summarize judicial opinions and another tool that partially automated the process of reviewing medical records in a high-profile class action lawsuit.