Jessica N. Carmichael has defended hundreds of clients in often high-stakes and nationally-profiled criminal cases. She fearlessly handles all types of criminal matters, as well as security clearance litigation, and military criminal defense.  Jessica knows what her clients have at risk, and tirelessly works to achieve a favorable result for each and every individual.  Prior to founding Harris & Carmichael, PLLC she represented clients at the Federal Public Defender's Office and at a private law firm in Alexandria, Virginia. Jessica's experience encompasses a wide range of cases, including money laundering, bribery, mortgage fraud, cyber crime, robbery, immigration fraud, unlawful reentry, assault, sex crimes, DUI, drug conspiracies, and traffic offenses.  She has represented federal law enforcement agents, military officers, business owners, cyber online activists, professional athletes, clients charged with terrorism offenses, and many others in prominent criminal cases.  

Jessica clerked for two Judges in Federal Court in Norfolk, Virginia where her husband, a Naval Officer, was stationed. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in communications from the University of Cincinnati, and her Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. There, Jessica won several awards for oral advocacy, and participated in a clinic that allowed her to teach legal concepts such as freedom of speech to local middle school students.

Jessica N. Carmichael spent a summer with the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, and a subsequent summer working for the State Department in the political and economic section of the United States Embassy in Manama, Bahrain. Jessica volunteers at local law schools judging mock trial and moot court competitions.  Jessica is a member of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers,  the Federal Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Alexandria Bar Association.