Andi Geloo
Trial attorney based in Fairfax, Virginia. Appearing throughout Virginia.
Traffic, misdemeanor, and criminal defense. State and federal court.
Over twenty years in law. Built on referrals.
I came to law through writing.
I started as a writer. I still write — for legal and general-interest publications.
Writing taught me that everyone has a story. That no two are the same. And that justice depends on those stories being heard.
That is what brought me to law. It is still how I work a case.
A Straight Assessment
You will get an honest assessment. Not just what you want to hear.
If your case is difficult, I will tell you on the first call. Because I care about the outcome.
And you will also hear how we work through it.
One Lawyer, Start to Finish
This is a small practice by design.
The person you speak to on the phone is the person who stands with you in court.
Referrals, Not Advertising
Most of my work comes from former clients, colleagues, and people who have observed my work in court.
That is the standard I hold myself to.
When the law did not cover it, I helped change it.
Virginia law did not give victims of online defamation enough time to act. I drafted the change that extends the window to seek justice.
I took it on after I unveiled the identities of those who targeted me online and found that same gap. It is now there for anyone in Virginia facing the same thing.
It sits in the code at Va. Code § 8.01-247.1, amended by the General Assembly in 2015. The amendment stops the clock while a publisher is hiding behind an anonymous or false identity, so your year to sue does not quietly run out while you are still trying to find out who wrote it.
People call it Andi’s Law.
Admissions and background.
Graduated with high honors from George Washington University Law School.
- Commonwealth of Virginia
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court
- Over twenty years in practice
- Featured in Authority Magazine on what it takes to become a top lawyer in your field
Juris Doctor with High Honors, George Washington University, 2003
Admitted to the Supreme Court of Virginia, 29 October 2003
Joel B. Rosenthal Commercial Law Award, GW Law, 2003
Recognition and record
The rest of it, for the record.
Credentials matter less than what happens in the courtroom, but you are entitled to check them before you hand someone your case. Here is the whole picture, and everything below can be verified.
Education
- Juris Doctor, with High HonorsGeorge Washington University Law School, 2003. Top ten per cent of the class.
- Corpus Juris Secundum AwardWest Publishing, 2003
- Master of ArtsGeorge Washington University, 2003
- Bachelor of ArtsUniversity of Mary Washington, 1999
Before private practice
- Law Clerk, United States Sentencing Commission2003 to 2004
- Legal intern, Legal Services2003 to 2004
- Entertainment and fashion journalistBefore law school. It is where the writing came from.
Professional memberships
- Fairfax Bar AssociationMember since 2005
- Virginia Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember since 2005
Recognition
- Virginia Super LawyersThomson Reuters, 2022 and 2025
- Avvo Rating 10.0, SuperbTheir highest band, and 5.0 from client reviews. See the profile.
- Top 10 Attorney AwardNational Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2015
- Endorsed by 32 fellow lawyersDefence attorneys who have seen her work in the same courthouses.
Languages
- English
- Urdu
- Hindi
- French
If English is not the language you think in, you can have this conversation in the one you do.
Testimony and speaking
- Virginia General AssemblyOn House Bill 1635, the bill behind Andi's Law, 2015
- Let's Talk Live, ABC 7On cyberbullying and online defamation, 2015
- ADAMS graduation ceremonyOn how to protect your rights, 2015
- Intern Career ProgramFairfax General District Court, 2014
Published
- Virginia Lawyers WeeklyFour op-eds on judicial conduct and the profession
- Authority MagazineTop Lawyers interview, 2023
- Fairfax TimesOn the anonymous defamation case that led to Andi's Law, 2015
Pro bono work. And water wells.
I take pro bono cases for underprivileged families in Virginia. Through Waterfalls, we build water wells in Pakistan and elsewhere — in tribute to Hashim Geloo and as a stand against violence, hate, and injustice.
None of this would be possible without the sacrifice and courage of my father, who came to this country with courage and heart, and the values my mother and father taught us.
There is more about that work on the Global Outreach page.
The work itself.
Criminal defense — reckless driving, speeding, traffic tickets, driving on a suspended license — and personal injury and some civil matters.
Beyond the paid work: pro bono protection of abused women, advocacy, and work against racial inequality and injustice.
Fairfax · Prince William · Loudoun · Fauquier · Arlington · Stafford · Spotsylvania, and courts throughout Virginia. See the full list.
We are here to help you navigate this.
The first conversation is free. Plan for about 15 minutes — sometimes longer. My clock isn’t ticking while we’re talking.
Bring your summons and tell me what happened in your own words. I’m happy to keep answering your questions even after the consult, especially if you’re a nice person. My clients usually are.
And if I’m not the right fit for your case, I’ll tell you.