Yes. Manuel Leiva is fluent in Spanish and handles consultations, case meetings, and ongoing client communication directly in Spanish. The Leiva Law Firm also employs an independent certified interpreter for Spanish-language document preparation and translation.
The Leiva Law Firm serves clients throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and Stafford County, plus communities like Reston, Herndon, Tysons, Vienna, and McLean. For federal matters, the firm practices in the Eastern District Court of Virginia.
The Leiva Law Firm’s main office is at 3955 Chain Bridge Road, 2nd Floor, Fairfax, VA 22030. The firm also maintains an appointment-only office at 11710 Plaza America Drive, Suite 160 in Reston.
The Leiva Law Firm focuses on two areas: criminal defense and personal injury. Manuel Leiva has received “Top Lawyer” recognition in both practice areas and handles matters at every level of severity, from traffic offenses to capital cases and from car accidents to wrongful death claims. See the full list of practice areas.
Manuel Leiva has been named a “Top Lawyer” in Criminal Defense by Northern Virginia Magazine every year from 2021 through 2025, listed as a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by Washingtonian Magazine since 2017, and recognized as a Top Lawyer for Criminal Defense by Best Lawyers in America across multiple consecutive years. The Leiva Law Firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell with a 4.9/5.0 peer review score, a 10.0 “Superb” rating from Avvo, and 5.0/5.0 on Google Reviews at its Fairfax location.
Manuel Leiva has been a licensed Virginia attorney since 1998 and graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law. He began his career as an Assistant Public Defender in Fairfax County, defending indigent clients on serious felony charges. He later worked at a private litigation firm where he defended physicians in medical malpractice suits and represented plaintiffs in wrongful death actions before founding The Leiva Law Firm.
Yes. Manuel Leiva’s experience trying murder cases and other serious criminal charges equips him with the confidence and knowledge to handle every kind of criminal matter, including DWI/DUI and reckless driving charges. The legal skills required for the most serious cases (police procedure analysis, constitutional challenges, evidence suppression, courtroom advocacy) apply directly to misdemeanors and traffic matters. The reverse is not true: a lawyer whose practice is limited to traffic court typically does not have the skills to defend a serious felony.
The Leiva Law Firm prepares every case as if it will go to trial. Manuel Leiva has observed that many criminal defense attorneys in the Northern Virginia area have no or very little jury trial experience, which affects how prosecutors and insurance companies evaluate their cases. Because Manuel Leiva has jury trial experience, prosecutors and insurance companies frequently offer better plea deals and settlement numbers to The Leiva Law Firm’s clients even when a case does not reach a courtroom.
As the founder of The Leiva Law Firm, Manuel Leiva has more than 25 years of trial experience and has tried cases ranging from traffic offenses to capital murder. He began his career as an Assistant Public Defender in Fairfax County handling serious felony cases and has continued to try cases regularly in private practice.
Manuel Leiva handles every case personally. The Leiva Law Firm is a boutique practice with no associate attorneys, so the lawyer who meets with you during the consultation is the same lawyer who handles every phase of the representation, including court appearances. Learn more about Manuel Leiva.
Not necessarily. The number of former prosecutors working as defense attorneys in Northern Virginia is high, which means that credential alone does not create any advantage. Prosecutors evaluate cases based on the facts and the strength of the defense, and the skillset of defense counsel. What matters is whether the defense attorney has trial experience. Manuel Leiva’s 25+ years of trial experience across serious felonies carries more weight with prosecutors than a former-prosecutor credential held by an attorney who rarely goes to trial.
Meet any prospective attorney either in person or via Zoom before hiring, and be cautious of any attorney who refuses to meet personally, sends a paralegal in their place, uses scare tactics, or guarantees a specific outcome. A legitimate defense attorney reviews the facts of the case with you and gives a fair, honest assessment of the available defenses rather than promising results. At The Leiva Law Firm, every initial consultation is conducted by Manuel Leiva directly, and the assessment includes a realistic range of outcomes based on the specific case facts.
Yes. The Leiva Law Firm handles federal criminal cases in the Eastern District Court of Virginia. Manuel Leiva regularly handles large federal narcotics cases, including matters involving cartel members extradited to the United States, and the firm currently has multiple active cartel-related cases.
The Leiva Law Firm defends the full spectrum of criminal charges in Virginia, including homicide, assault and battery, domestic violence, sex crimes, drug crimes at the state and federal level, weapons charges, property crimes, arson, DWI/DUI, reckless driving, and capital cases. Manuel Leiva has jury trial experience in serious matters including murder, rape, and malicious wounding. See the complete list of criminal defense services.
If you post bond or are released on personal recognizance and have no other holds, you will be released from jail. A hold is a detainer placed by another governmental agency that requires continued custody until the hold is cleared. If you cannot post bond or do not qualify for pretrial release, you will remain in jail while the case is pending or until an attorney can present a bond motion to the court. The Leiva Law Firm regularly files bond motions in Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William, and other Northern Virginia courts.
Hire an attorney immediately. Some Virginia jurisdictions require an arraignment hearing shortly after release, where the judge explains your right to counsel, the nature of the charges, and the possible penalties. The judge then sets the case for trial if the charge is a misdemeanor or for a preliminary hearing if the charge is a felony. The Leiva Law Firm can begin case review right away at (703) 352-6400.
A preliminary hearing is held in Virginia’s General District Court or Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for felony cases, to determine whether probable cause exists to proceed to trial. The hearing includes witness testimony and evidence from the prosecution, and the defense has the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and present its own evidence. Most defendants do not call witnesses at this stage; the main strategic opportunity is challenging the prosecution’s case through cross-examination
Go directly to the courtroom listed on the court’s posted docket, which shows every defendant scheduled that day. You must appear on the exact date and time ordered, or the court may forfeit your bond and issue a warrant for your arrest. Bond forfeiture means losing the money that was posted as a guarantee of your appearance.
No. Once charges are filed, the Commonwealth of Virginia through its prosecutors decides whether to proceed or dismiss, not the alleged victim. An experienced defense attorney can still influence how the prosecution handles the case through evidentiary challenges, negotiations, and case strategy. The Leiva Law Firm regularly defends Virginia domestic violence cases.
Criminal defense representation at The Leiva Law Firm is provided on a flat fee basis, so clients know their total cost upfront rather than facing surprise bills. The specific fee depends on the severity of the charges and the circumstances of the case. The Leiva Law Firm discusses payment options and provides the fee quote at the initial consultation so clients understand exactly what their defense will cost before committing. The firm also accepts online payments through its website.
The Leiva Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront and owe no legal fees unless the firm recovers compensation on their behalf. The specific contingency percentage is discussed during the free consultation.
Personal injury consultations at The Leiva Law Firm are free. For serious felony criminal defense matters, the firm charges a nominal fee of $300 to $400 for a one-hour consultation with Manuel Leiva, during which he reviews the case in detail and provides an honest assessment. For low-level misdemeanors, Manuel Leiva may provide an initial phone consultation at no cost.
Call (703) 352-6400 or email info@leiva-law.com to schedule a consultation with The Leiva Law Firm. The firm’s assistant will collect preliminary information about your situation, and Manuel Leiva will follow up personally. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time. You can also reach out through the contact page.
The Leiva Law Firm responds to inquiries within 24 hours, and often within a few hours. Manuel Leiva’s assistant collects preliminary information about the situation, and Manuel Leiva then calls the prospective client back personally.
The Leiva Law Firm secured a $4 million settlement for a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a T-bone collision at an intersection. See more case results.
The Leiva Law Firm handles medical malpractice cases involving death caused by medical negligence. For medical malpractice matters that do not involve death, the firm may refer clients to other firms better positioned to handle those specific claims. Manuel Leiva previously defended physicians in malpractice lawsuits earlier in his career, which informs how he builds these cases from the plaintiff side.
The Leiva Law Firm represents injury victims in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, premises liability cases (including trip and fall, negligent security, and dog bites), catastrophic injuries (such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, and amputations), and wrongful death cases.
If you are facing criminal charges or have been injured due to another party's negligence, call The Leiva Law Firm at (703) 352-6400 or visit the contact page to request a consultation. Manuel Leiva will review your situation personally and provide an honest assessment of your options.
LEIVA LAW FIRM
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+1 (703) 352-6400
+1 (703) 352-6400