Paula R. Bernstein

Ms. Bernstein graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Law.  Upon her graduation, Ms. Bernstein worked for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association prior to her entering the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.  Ms. Bernstein was awarded the “Eleanor & James Clanton Haynes Memorial Law and Public Policy” fellowship while in law school.  During law school, Ms. Bernstein worked as an Information Specialist for The Death Penalty Information Center where she delivered presentations about capital punishment to state, national and international organizations and even provided expert testimony before the Judiciary Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates.  She graduated from the Columbus School of law cum laude.  Ms. Bernstein joined the Fairfax County Public Defender’s Office shortly after her graduation from law school and held the position of Senior Assistant Public Defender in 2003.  She joined Mr. Brisendine, Overand, and Buster at the Gordon Law Firm in 2007 where she took the responsibility of opening the firm’s Central Virginia office.  During her career as a criminal defense attorney, she has successfully represented uncounted numbers of clients charged with serious traffic offenses, criminal misdemeanors such as larceny, drug offenses, and fraud, as well as serious felonies including robbery, rape, and murder.