About Afshin Farashahi
EDUCATION
University of Virginia School of Law
Charlottesville, Virginia
J.D., 1992
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia
B.S., magna cum laude, 1989
Major: Political Science; Minors: Economics, History
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Solo Practitioner
Afshin Farashahi, P.C., Virginia Beach, Virginia
January 2003-present
Practice areas include all phases of criminal litigation, including trials and appeals, and traffic cases.
Certified by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission to handle capital murder cases as lead counsel.
Certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia as guardian ad litem.
Associate
Glasser & Glasser, Norfolk, Virginia
January 2002-January 2003
Represented plaintiffs in lead poisoning and product liability actions; consultant and co-counsel in lead poisoning litigation in other states; handled traffic and criminal cases.
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney
Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Virginia Beach, Virginia
June 1998-May 2001
Supervised a team of seven prosecutors, three paralegals, and two interns; prosecuted all types of cases, including homicide, rape, robbery, and property crimes; conducted legal training for attorneys and paralegals; coordinated and implemented community prosecution program; represented the office at various public and civic meetings and gave presentations at those meetings; drafted appellate briefs; acting chief deputy commonwealth's attorney during the absence of the chief deputy.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Virginia Beach, Virginia
April 1993-May 1998
Prosecuted all types of cases, including homicide, rape, robbery, and property crimes; conducted legal training for attorneys and paralegals; drafted appellate briefs; acting trial team leader during the absence of deputy commonwealth's attorney.
COURT ADMISSIONS
Supreme Court of Virginia
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Lecturer, "The Essentials Of And The Recent Trends In The Laws Of Search And Seizure And Confessions," Lorman Education Services, Baltimore, Maryland (2006)
Lecturer, "Practice In The Circuit Courts Of Virginia," Virginia Indigent Defense Commission Certification Training, Virginia Beach, Virginia (2005)
Faculty, Trial Advocacy I, National College of District Attorneys, Columbia, South Carolina (1998-2000)
Lecturer, Commonwealth's Attorneys' Spring Training Seminar, Virginia Beach, Virginia (1998, 2000)
Lecturer, Virginia Beach Police Department In-Service, Virginia Beach, Virginia (1998)
Mentor, Seatack Elementary School, Virginia Beach, Virginia (2006-2009)
PUBLICATIONS
“The U.S. Supreme Court and the Fourth Amendment: Laying the Groundwork for a Radical
Shift in the Law of Search and Seizure.” Virginia Bar Association News Journal (Spring 2010).
"The Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-Incrimination in Civil Cases." Virginia Lawyer (December 2009), with D.L. Arnold.
"Another Broadside on Miranda: The 2003-2004 U.S. Supreme Court Term and the Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-Incrimination." Virginia Lawyer (October 2004), with D. L. Arnold.
"Double Jeopardy in Successive Prosecutions." The Prosecutor (Fall 1992) and Criminal Justice Journal (Fall 1992), with W. J. Brudzinski.
"Another View: End the Appearance of Impropriety." The Virginian-Pilot (Feb. 7, 1996).
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Virginia State Bar (Member, Criminal Law Section)
Virginia Beach Bar Association
Standing Committee on Lawyer Discipline of the Virginia State Bar (2003-2009, Vice Chair 2007-2008)
Second District Disciplinary Committee of the Virginia State Bar, 2000-2006 (Chair 2004-2006)
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Fluent in Farsi