David J. Dischley

As the owner of the Alexandria, Virginia and Warrenton, Virginia, law office of David J. Dischley, PLC, Mr. Dischley provides dedicated criminal law defense to people in Vienna, Fairfax, Herndon, Alexandria and throughout Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax counties. He generally handles cases that involve issues such as DUI and DWI, reckless driving, drug charges, property crimes and fraud. Mr. Dischley also represents clients seeking expungements in Virginia.

On the same day that he was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Dischley received an Associates of Applied Science in administration of justice from Northern Virginia Community College, graduating cum laude. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in administration of justice from George Mason University and a Juris Doctor from the Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University.

Prior to entering into his private practice, Mr. Dischley served as a prosecutor in Fauquier and Loudoun counties and served in varying law enforcement capacities. In those roles, he gained valuable insight into the prosecution's investigative and trial techniques and strategies. He draws on that knowledge to help him see the charges against his clients reduced or dropped, or to limit the potential penalties they are facing. His dedication to providing quality counsel while maintaining high standards of legal ethics has gained Mr. Dischley the respect of his clients and peers alike. He has an Avvo "Superb" rating and has been named in The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100.

Staying active in the community, Mr. Dischley offers legal services to members of the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc., and he serves as an advisor to a local police department. He frequently shares his knowledge with others, writing on topics relating to his area of focus. Mr. Dischley is a member of The National College for DUI Defense, Inc.

George Mason School of Law
J.D., 2006

Sean Sherlock

Sean A. Sherlock is an attorney with the Law Office of David J. Dischley, PLC. Having tried hundreds of cases, Sean is a skilled, compassionate, and tough lawyer who gets results for his clients.

Sean’s success as a prosecutor in the criminal courts prepared him well to defend clients facing criminal charges or criminal investigations. In more than five years as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Sean prosecuted cases ranging from reckless driving and misdemeanor drug possession to rape, racketeering, and murder. He quickly gained a reputation as a tough, fair, and highly skilled prosecutor, and took on numerous special assignments.

Throughout his career as a prosecutor, Sean frequently trained other prosecutors, law enforcement, and other allied professionals on topics such as evidence-based prosecution strategies in domestic violence cases, prosecuting criminal street gangs, Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues for police, educational neglect, animal cruelty, legal/legislative updates, gun rights, and many others. In only his third year as a prosecutor, Sean conducted trainings at two state-wide conferences for hundreds of state prosecutors and law enforcement officers.

Before entering public service at the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Sean was a litigation association for Cohen & Cohen, PC, one of the top plaintiffs’ law firms in Washington, D.C. While at Cohen & Cohen, Sean handled all aspects of civil litigation in wrongful death, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. He worked on high-profile cases including the Fort Totten Metro Crash litigation and developed a passion for helping people who had been injured through the negligence of others.

Sean has served on the board of the Foundation of the Alexandria Bar Association since 2014, and was elected Treasurer in 2018. He was a member of the Alexandria Community Gang Taskforce and the Alexandria Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Sean routinely serves as a guest lecturer at law school courses on Ethics for Trial Lawyers and Litigation Skills, and has presented at numerous career days where he shares his unique career experiences with students.

Sean enjoys contributing to the community, and since 2014 has helped to organize Jazz 4 Justice Alexandria, an annual benefit concert that has raised thousands of dollars for youth scholarships and pro bono legal services in the City of Alexandria. He has organized multiple events, including the first annual Commonwealth’s Attorney Community Academy, and the Silent Witness Vigil honoring victims of domestic violence.

Sean graduated cum laude from American University’s Washington College of Law, where he was also a Deans Fellow and a member of the International Law Review.

During law school, Sean sought out multiple opportunities to gain real-world legal experience that would later prove invaluable in his legal practice. He spent his first summer clerking for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he worked on special education cases and other civil litigation. Sean spent his second summer in law school clerking for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, Crime and Drugs Subcommittee. While clerking for the Committee, Sean worked on the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, which reduced the federal sentencing disparity for crack vs. powder cocaine. He also worked on the nomination hearings for Associate Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. In his third year, Sean interned at the Office of the State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where he was able to prosecute misdemeanors cases using his third-year practic certificate.

Sean is a graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a BA in Political Science. While at Penn State, Sean made Dean’s List and was active in the student government. He also volunteered his time as a student advocate for Penn State Legal Affairs, where he helped defend students charged with violating the university’s student conduct regulations, and first became interested in the law.

Sean and his wife, Christina, have three children and reside in Alexandria

American University, Washington College of Law
J.D., 2011

Patrick O'Brien

Patrick T. O’Brien is a skilled advocate whose compassion for his clients is as important to him as his skills to provide great outcomes in his cases. Attoreny O'Brien is a Partner with Dischley Law, PLLC. He is a former prosecutor with over a decade of experience handling high profile cases and major crimes. Attorney O'Brien is known in Northern Virginia as a skilled and tenacious litigator who obtains unprecedented results for his clients. He prides himself on taking a holistic approach with all his clients, and believes strongly that such an approach leads to better results in court. Attorney O'Brien's knowledge, experience, and passion provides him with the ability to see any client through even the most difficult situation to achieve a positive outcome.

Attorney O'Brien's legal insight and experience sets him apart from other attorneys. In his career Attorney O'Brien has taken hundreds of cases to trial, including dozens of jury trials, on charges ranging from DUI, Reckless Driving, and possession of controlled substances up to murder, rape and large-scale drug distribution. In his career Attorney O'Brien has provided training to other attorneys, prosecutors, and law enforcement professionals on topics including Driving Under the Influence, Constitutional Law, trial practice, and other areas.

Attorney O'Brien’s clients benefit from his experience representing the Commonwealth in both Northern and Southern Virginia. Attorney O'Brien’s career began serving the citizens of Lynchburg, Virginia. During his time in Lynchburg, Attorney O'Brien prosecuted charges ranging from criminal misdemeanors, traffic offenses and serious felonies. Before leaving Lynchburg, Attorney O'Brien’s was handling major felonies to include narcotics distribution, robbery, embezzlement and homicide.

After five years in Lynchburg,Attorney O'Brien accepted a Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney position in the City of Alexandria. Attorney O'Brien's caseload focused on major felony offenses, primarily focused on the prosecution of narcotics distribution offenses. Beyond drug trafficking, he continued to work robbery, firearm and, homicide crimes hand in hand with the city’s Police Department.

After over nine years spent prosecuting in Southern and Northern Virginia, Attorney O'Brien brings a well-rounded understanding of prosecutorial goals and tactics. This knowledge provides his clients an advocate who can quickly diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of the Government's case. With this information,Attorney O'Brien then determines the client’s best course of action.

Attorney O'Brien’s skills as a litigator were highly respected by his peers in the legal field. Attorney O'Brien served a lecturer for prosecutors, law enforcement, criminal defense attorneys, and judges. His main focus related to the presentation of visual evidence at trial. Attorney O'Brien developed multi-day trainings related to the use of cutting-edge technology in the courtroom and best practices to communicate visual evidence to juries. Attorney O'Brien also provided insight into evidence obtained from cellular technology and social media. Attorney O'Brien has been asked to lecture at events hosted the Virginia State Bar, the Criminal Section of the Virginia State Bar, The Office of the Attorney General, The University of Virginia School of Law, Washington and Lee School of Law and the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council.

Washington and Lee University School of Law
JD, 2010