Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, White Collar Crimes, Civil Litigation; view more
Licensed in Washington DC since: 2014
Education: The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2024 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2020 - 2022 Details
Julia M. Coleman is a Partner at McCool Law PLLC in Washington, D.C. A top-rated trial attorney and an emerging leader in her field, Ms. Coleman provides invaluable and effective counsel and support to clients throughout Washington, D.C., who have been charged or are under investigation for serious federal or state white collar crimes, felonies, or misdemeanor offenses.
As a criminal defense attorney, Ms. Coleman provides exceptional defense counsel for the accused, and she has achieved a long record of securing successful outcomes for her clients in state and federal courts across her region. She has also represented clients during internal investigations as well as before grand jury hearings, and she has gained a reputation for her in-depth legal knowledge and aggressive approach at protecting her clients' rights and interests at all turns.
In addition to criminal defense, Ms. Coleman also has extensive experience handling complex civil and administrative matters, including civil tort actions and employment discrimination claims. She has also handled a number of mediations before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission along with her considerable trial experience in state and federal court.
A 2008 graduate of James Madison University with degrees in political science, communication studies and public relations, Ms. Coleman obtained her Juris Doctor in 2012 from The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. While there, she was a member of the Catholic University Law Review staff as well as the Wilhelm C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, where she served as captain her final year.
She holds her license to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia as well as before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the District of Maryland.
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Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Civil Litigation: DefenseFocus areas
Criminal Law - Federal, White Collar Crime
- 40% Criminal Defense
- 40% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 20% Civil Litigation: Defense
First Admitted: 2012, Maryland
Professional Webpage: http://mccoollawpllc.com/attorney-profiles/julia-m-coleman
- Co-counsel for international sports broadcasting company executive in connection with bribery allegations arising out of FIFA investigation.
- Co-counsel for NSA Station Chief for Korea who pled guilty to child abuse resulting in death in Montgomery County, Maryland. Prosecutor sought a 40-year term of imprisonment. Ms. Coleman’s client was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, and will be eligible for release in four years.
- Co-counsel for an officer and executive of a national healthcare provider at depositions pursuant to civil investigative demands issued by the U.S. Department of Justice in a multi-state False Claims Act investigation
- Co-counsel for Am Law 200 international law firm in a discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee. Following extensive discovery, Plaintiff dismissed her case with prejudice, just prior to her scheduled deposition. She received no remuneration.
- Lead counsel for plaintiff in a personal injury action, in which plaintiff had sustained over $9,070.80 in medical expenses. Following a bench trial, the Court awarded plaintiff a verdict of $19,070.80.
- Lead counsel for plaintiff in a personal injury action involving a multi-vehicle collision against three defendants and complex contributory negligence issues. After a two-day jury trial, the jury found that the plaintiff was not at fault for the collision and awarded a verdict for plaintiff of $15,825.20, over $9,000 more than plaintiff had sustained in medical costs and lost wages.
- Co-counsel for a former telephone company executive charged with defrauding the Federal Lifeline telephone program out of more than $32 million. On the eve of what was expected to be an eight-week trial, the U.S. Department of Justice dismissed all charges against Ms. Coleman’s client.
- Co-counsel for a defendant in the first trial of individuals indicted on multiple charges of conspiracy, felony rioting, and destruction of property following the January 2017 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump. Following a four-week trial, Ms. Coleman’s client, and all of her client’s co-defendants, were acquitted of all charges. After the acquittals in this trial, and acquittals and mistrials in the following Inauguration trial, the government dismissed all charges against all 100+ remaining charged defendants.
- Appointed by a Federal Judge as co-counsel for indigent client charged with Conspiracy to Distribute One Kilogram or More of Phencyclidine, Possessing a Firearm During a Federal Drug Trafficking Offense, Armed Extortion, Armed Robbery, First Degree Burglary While Armed, Obstruction of Justice, Cruelty to Children, Unlawful Possession with the Intent to Distribute Phencyclidine and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. Ms. Coleman served as lead counsel at oral argument on a motion to dismiss five of the six 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) charges against her client, on the basis that the § 924(c) charges could not be based on a D.C. Code, and not federal, offense. After oral argument, the Court granted the motion to dismiss and concluded, in a matter of first impression for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, that “Congress intended for § 924(c) to reach only federal, U.S. Code crimes.” In securing the dismissal of these charges, Ms. Coleman ensured that, if convicted, her client would no longer face a mandatory life sentence. On March 24, 2015, following a 12-week trial, a jury acquitted Ms. Coleman’s client on all charges, except a lesser burglary offense and Unlawful Possession with the Intent to Distribute Phencyclidine and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
- Co-counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice’s first ever standalone prosecution of OFAC violations under the Kingpin Act.
- Co-counsel for executives in investigations by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice into alleged “no-poach” agreements
- Catholic University Law Review, 2010-2011 Staff Member, Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
- Wilhelm C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, 2010-2011 Team Member, 2011-2012 Team Captain, Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
- Maryland
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- District of Columbia
- James Madison University
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024
- Rising Stars: 2020 - 2022
