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Seth Carroll grew up in the foothills of South Carolina, before moving to Virginia where he attended the William & Mary School of Law. Since graduating from law school, Seth has worked exclusively in litigation. He has more than 15 years of experience in employment, workers’ compensation, personal injury, and civil rights litigation. His experience spans from representing individuals in administrative proceedings and bench trials to jury trials and appeals. 

Seth primarily focuses on representing individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated at the hands of law enforcement or while incarcerated. He has extensive experience litigating claims against individual officers, municipalities, and government agencies for violations of rights protected by the First, Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. 

Seth is an optimist. This applies to finding a path to victory for his clients and maintaining the necessary focus and determination to overcome long odds. Yet this optimism applies also to maintaining hope that parties might be able to work together to resolve their differences, when appropriate. Ultimately, the hope is to bring the interactions of individuals and law enforcement more in line with the “standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.”

In furtherance of these goals, Seth has taken on leadership roles in national and state organizations with regard to issues related to protecting individual constitutional rights. He regularly serves on legislative committees for the purpose of reviewing proposed changes to laws or rules that impact police reform, correctional reform, and the protection of individual constitutional rights.

Joining Seth and his clients is an experienced and resilient team of lawyers and paralegals who understand the unique challenges involved in civil rights litigation. 

Above all, Seth is a son, husband, and father. His wife, Lauren Carroll, leads CLG’s workers’ compensation practice. 

Professional Experience

  • Commonwealth Law Group - Richmond, Virginia
    Partner/Owner – January 2014 through present.
    Represent individuals in complex civil rights and medical negligence cases, personal injury cases, workers’ compensation cases and employment discrimination cases. 
  • Geoff McDonald & Associates – Richmond, Virginia
    Associate – November 2009 through December 2013
    Represented individuals in civil rights, personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.
  • Gregory Kaplan – Richmond, Virginia
    Associate – November 2008 through June 2009
    Represented small to mid-size companies in employment law and business litigation matters.
  • LeClairRyan – Richmond, Virginia
    Associate – September 2007 through November 2008
    Represented large companies in employment and labor law matters, in addition to assisting in insurance defense litigation matters.

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia (current)
  • Washington, DC (current)
  • Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals - Virginia (current) 
  • United States District Court - Eastern District of Virginia (current)
  • United States District Court – Western District of Virginia (current)
  • United States District Court – Western District of New York (current)

Education

  • The College of William & Mary School of Law – Williamsburg, Virginia
    Juris Doctor – May 2007
    • Moot Court Team
    • Moot Court Board Member
    • Author 2007 Spong Moot Court Problem
    • Kruchko and Fries Award – Top Graduating Student in Employment and Labor Law.
  • Clemson University – Clemson, South Carolina
    Bachelor of Arts – May 2004
    • Departmental Honors - History

Awards/Honors

  • American Association for Justice – Certificate of Recognition 2018, 2020, 2021
  • Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent Rated
  • Best Lawyers – 2021-present
  • Super Lawyers – 2022; Rising Stars (2014-2021)
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Organizations

  • American Association for Justice
  • Civil Rights Executive Committee
    2015 through present

    Work with national civil rights lawyers to improve plaintiff’s practice, review proposed legislation and rules, assist with member briefs, submit amicus materials, assist with newsletter and participate in annual CLE program development.
  • Civil Rights Section Leadership
    Immediate Past Chair (2020-21), Chair (2019-2020), Chair Elect (2018-2019), Vice Chair (2017-2018), Newsletter Editor (2016-2017).
  • Civil Rights Section
    Member
  • Police Misconduct Litigation Group
    Vice Chair (2022-2023)
  • Police Misconduct Taskforce
    Member
  • National Police Accountability Project
    Member
  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
    Member 
  • Virginia State Bar
    Member in Good Standing (2007-present)
  • Federal Bar Association
    Member
  • American Inns of Court – Virginia Workers’ Compensation
    Member
  • "Super Lawyers" 
    Member in Good Standing (2022-present)
  • Police Misconduct Vice Chair (2022-present)

Speaking/Presentations

  • Virginia Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court – June 2022 – And You Thought You Knew Everything: Discrete Topics in Virginia Workers’ Compensation Practice (panel member).
  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association: Sovereign and Qualified Immunity in Virginia – May 2021 – Civil Rights: Introduction to Qualified Immunity and Sovereign Immunity: Doctrinal Basics and Similarities/Differences Between the Doctrines
  • New Jersey Association for Justice: Meadowland Seminar 2020 – December 2020 – Civil Rights: Custom, Practice and Policy: Proving the Monell Claim.
  • American Association for Justice: Annual Convention – July 2020 – Civil Rights: Municipal Obstruction in Pre-Suit, Discovery and Settlement.
  • NBI Personal Injury Litigation: Secrets and Insider Tips – September 2019 – Medical Expert Deposition and Cross-Examination Tactics and Pain and Suffering Damages: Calculating, Negotiating and Litigating.
  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association: Torts Seminar – May 2019 – Issue spotting and techniques for handling statutory liens, contractual assignments, ERISA, government benefits, eligibility, Medicare, MSA’s, Medicaid, etc.
  • NBI Personal Injury Boot Camp – October 2018 – How to Get Your Social Media, Email and Text Evidence Admitted (and Keep Theirs Out): Establishing Authenticity & Satisfying the Best Evidence Rule: The Unsurmountable Challenge.
  • Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission: 2017 Educational Conference – Workplace Violence: Issues on Compensability
  • VTLA Advance Auto Retreat 2017 – Chair 
  • VTLA Advance Auto Retreat 2017 – Using Demonstrative Evidence
  • VTLA §1983 Civil Rights Seminar 2016 – Ethical Considerations 
  • WRVA 1140 – October 21, 2015 - Guest Legal Analysis of Martese Johnson case.  
  • NBI 2015 CLE – Litigating Slip, Trip and Fall Cases in Virginia
  • AAJ Washington, DC Regional Trial Advocacy Competition 2015 – Presiding Judge
  • VTLA Advanced Workers’ Compensation Retreat 2012 – Compensable Consequences
  • Federal Bar Association - Deliberate Indifference to a Serious Medical Need - From Both Sides of the “V” (webinar - contributing materials author)

Publications

  • Trial Magazine – October 2021 – “Law enforcement videos and training materials can be powerful tools in police misconduct cases.  But before you incorporate them into pleadings, carefully consider how they could affect defense qualified immunity claims.”
  • First Amendment Retaliation: Police Response to Black Lives Matter and George Floyd Protests – 2020 – The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Volume 28 Number 2
  • Policing the Police: Addressing Racism in Law Enforcement through Individual and Community Accountability – 2020 - The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Volume 28 Number 2
  • Contributor, Am. Ass'n for Just., Prisoner Neglect and Abuse Litigation Packet 2020 – Author of Introduction
  • Trial Magazine – June 2018 – “Learning from Discord,” book review of Free Speech on Campus by Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman.
  • AAJ Exchange Litigation Packet – 2018 Contributor – “Spoliation Litigation.” 

“I really enjoyed all the staff and lawyers I was in contact with on my cases. They really care about their clients and was always available when I had questions or concerns. I would always pick them in the future if the occasion calls for a great law firm. Thank you Commonwealth Law Group!”

Crystal Flowers

If you have been injured at work or through the negligence of another individual or entity, contact us at (804) 999-9999 or or use the form below to connect with our legal team. We will fight to get you the justice you deserve.