Local Counsel Services

The Erlich Law Office regularly serves as local counsel for out-of-state plaintiffs and defendants. The Erlich Law Office is conveniently located in Arlington, Virginia near the Arlington County Courthouse and the Eastern District of Virginia – Alexandria Division. The attorneys at The Erlich Law Office can provide knowledge of local rules, discovery and deposition support, assistance with motions practice, and trial management support.

Virginia Federal Court

All of The Erlich Law Office’s attorneys are admitted to practice and can serve as local counsel in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Each of The Erlich Law Office’s attorneys have federal trial experience, including knowledge of local voir dire practice, local preferences on jury instructions, and local rules on court room technology.

The Local Rules for the Eastern District of Virginia require that “practitioners from another state or the District of Columbia shall be accompanied by a member of the bar of this Court in all appearances before this Court.” Local Rule 83.1(D)(1)(b).

The Eastern District of Virginia is the fastest moving federal court in the United States. Attorneys who are not accustomed to the fast pace of the Eastern District of Virginia will benefit greatly from the assistance of local counsel. It is critical to have experienced local counsel to help you navigate your litigation. The Eastern District of Virginia has certain local rules that are either rare or unique. For example, discovery objections must be filed within fifteen days of service of discovery rather than with responsive discovery. Missing this deadline can result in waiving discovery objections.

The Eastern District of Virginia, especially in the Alexandria Division, has extraordinarily restrictive rules on court room technology. In some cases, the trial team can be limited to one computer, no mobile phones, and no tablets.

Above all else, the Eastern District of Virginia is characterized by its speed. Commonly known as the “Rocket Docket,” the Eastern District of Virginia’s local rules require all motions to be set for a hearing when the motion is filed, unless a hearing is affirmatively waived by all parties. Local Rule 7(E) requires that, “a motion shall be deemed withdrawn if the movant does not set it for hearing (or arrange to submit it without a hearing) within thirty (30) days after the date on which the motion is filed.”

The Eastern District of Virginia also offers a Friday-to-Friday docket for discovery disputes, allowing only a few days for briefing.

In the role of local counsel, attorneys from The Erlich Law Office will help navigate the complex and nuanced rules unique to the Eastern District of Virginia, both written and unwritten. Attorneys at the Erlich Law Office will share the knowledge and experience they have gained from years of practice to keep you informed about the people and processes you encounter along the way.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Joshua Erlich is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He can provide guidance on issues such as mandatory mediation, briefing schedules, and local customs.

Virginia State Courts

All of The Erlich Law Office’s attorneys can serve as local counsel in matters before the General District Courts, Circuit Courts, the Virginia Court of Appeals, or the Virginia Supreme Court.

The location of The Erlich Law Office allows its attorneys to be of assistance as local counsel in a number of state courts in northern Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William County. The Erlich Law Office has experience with the electronic filing systems in many of these courts to make filing in these courts faster and easier.

Please contact us at (703) 791-9087 to discuss whether The Erlich Law Office may be of assistance with your local counsel needs or to schedule an initial consultation. The Erlich Law Office is happy to work with you to reach a local counsel arrangement that best fits the particular needs of your case.