Paulette Chapman
WASHINGTON, D.C. INJURY ATTORNEY

Paulette Chapman headshot
Education
  • George Washington University Law School 1988 (with Honors)
  • George Mason University 1976
Admitted
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Bar Organizations/Leadership
  • District of Columbia Bar
  • Board of Governors, (2006-2012)
  • Member, Budget Committee (2010-2011)
  • Co-Chair, The Development Committee for the 2009 President’s Reception Benefiting the DC Bar Pro Bono Program (2009)
  • Member, Executive Committee of the Board of Governors (2008)
  • Chair, Screening Committee (2007)
  • Member, Nominations Committee (2005)
  • Board Liaison to Steering Committees:
    • Courts, Lawyers and Administration of Justice Section (2010-2011)
    • Taxation Section (2008-2009)
    • Law Practice Management Section (2007-2008)
    • Tort Law Section (2006-2007)
  • Co-Chair, DC Bar Tort Law Section (2001, 2002)
  • District of Columbia Bar Foundation
    • Board Member (2013-2018)
    • Chair, Lawyer Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) Committee (2013-2015)
    • Co-Chair, Development Committee (2016-2018)
  • Bar Association of the District of Columbia
    • President (2007-2008)
    • President Elect (2006-2007)
    • Board of Directors (2002-2009)
    • Sustaining Member
    • Served on numerous committees including Nominations, Judicial Endorsements, and Annual Banquet
  • Foundation of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia
    • Board of Directors (2016-present)
  • Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia
    • President (2003-2004)
    • Co-Chair: 2017 Centennial Celebration Committee (2015-2017)
    • President-Elect (2002-2003)
    • Member, Board of Directors (2002-2004)
    • Co-Chair, Litigation Committee (2000, 2001)
    • Co-Chair, Golf Tournament (2001-2006)
    • Member, Judicial Endorsements (2001-2002)
    • Served on numerous special and event planning committees including Annual Dinner Planning Committee and Judicial Reception Committee
  • Women’s Bar Association Foundation
    • Host, WBAF Annual Chefs Dinner for Charity (2009-2019)
    • Member, Board of Directors (2004-2010)
    • Chair, Grants Committee (2008-2009)
    • Member, Grants Committee (2007-2010)
    • Treasurer (2006-2007)
  • Council for Court Excellence
    • Executive Committee (2013-present)
    • Co-Chair, Justice Education Committee (2019)
    • Chair, Annual Dinner Awards Committee (2013-present)
    • Nominations Committee (2012-present)
    • DC Jury Project report: Jury Service Revisited: Upgrades for the 21st Century – Trial Structure Committee member (2014-2015)
    • Director (2012-2013)
  • Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
    • Member, Board of Governors (1999-2003; 2008-present)
    • Co-chair, Women’s Caucus (2012-2013)
    • Member, Public Education Committee (2012-2013)
    • Co-chair, Public Education Committee (2005)
  • The Barristers
    • President (2013-2014)
    • Vice President (2011-2012)
    • Secretary (2010-2011)
    • Treasurer (2009-2010)
    • Member (2006-present)
  • Merit Selection Panel, United States District Court for the District of Columbia
    • Chair (2013)
    • Member (2012)
  • District of Columbia Circuit Court Judicial Conference
    • Invited Attendee (2008, 2010, 2012)
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ)
    • Formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)
    • Member (1989-present)
  • American Bar Foundation, DC Fellows (2011-present)
  • Washington Council for Lawyers (2010-2011)
  • National Crime Victim Bar Association (2008-2010)
Recent Lectures/Educational Panels
  • District of Columbia Bar Continuing Legal Education Program
    • Co-Lecturer: “Essential Trial Skills Series: Jury Selection” (1999-2001, 2003-2017)
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA)
    • Faculty, various programs: Depositions, Trial Skills Program, and Advanced Trial Advocacy Program (2003-2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019)
  • ATLA National College of Advocacy (NCA)
    • Faculty “Essentials of Civil Litigation”, Atlanta, Georgia (2000)
    • Faculty “Deposition College”, Atlanta, Georgia (2001)
    • Faculty “Advanced Depositions College”, New Orleans, Louisiana (2007)
  • Guest Lecturer, George Washington University School of Law “American Jury” course (2015-2019)
  • Panelist, Council for Court Excellence “Changing Perceptions of Jury Service,” June CCE Board Meeting (2013)
  • Panelist, Washington Bar Association Judicial Council, 11th Annual Spring Symposium, “A Jury of Your Peers?” Race, Ethnicity and the Jury Selection Process (2011)
  • Panelist, George Washington University Law School, Career Exploration Conference (2007)
  • Adjunct Instructor, Catholic University School of Law: Federal Civil Procedure (1995, 1996)
  • Panelist, Council for Court Excellence “Changing Perceptions of Jury Service,” June CCE Board Meeting (2016)
Awards and Honors
  • Lawyer of the Year, Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. (2013)
  • Stars of the Bar Award, Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (2013)
  • “Washington’s Top Lawyers” Selected for inclusion in Washingtonian Magazine  (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
  • Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, Personal Injury(2009-2019)
  • The Best Lawyers in America – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2016-2019)
  • AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings (2020-2021)