Virginia Beach, VA — Parks Zeigler, PLLC is excited to announce the addition of Emily E. McLaughlin, Esq. to the firm. Emily brings nearly a decade as an experienced litigator to her new role at Parks Zeigler. Her expertise and passion for serving clients will further enhance the firm’s commitment to providing exceptional legal services across Virginia and North Carolina. Emily will be joining the firm practicing out of its Elizabeth City, North Carolina office, focusing primarily on family law cases.
Emily is a Virginia native, originally from Warrenton. She attended the College of William and Mary, where she earned a B.A. in Government with a pre-law focus and was an NCAA cheerleader. During her time at William and Mary, Emily gained valuable legislative experience through her volunteer work as a legislative intern with the Virginia State Senate Majority Leader’s Office.
She went on to earn her law degree from Pennsylvania State University Law School, graduating magna cum laude. While at Penn State Law, Emily distinguished herself through her involvement on the moot court board, her leadership as president of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and her service on the Graduate Student Association Judicial Committee. She also gained hands-on experience through internships with multiple district attorneys’ offices and her work as a certified legal intern at the Penn State Law Family Law Clinic, where she represented low-income clients in contested divorce and custody cases. In recognition of her trial advocacy skills, Emily received the George F. Douglas Memorial Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy and was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Barristers.
Emily began her legal career as a prosecutor for Prince William County, where she focused on narcotics offenses and violent crimes as part of the Narcotics Task Force and Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. Her work on Operation Worthy Cause earned her and her team the Public Safety Government Partner of the Year Award from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Following her tenure in Prince William County, Emily continued her prosecutorial career with the Suffolk and Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offices, focusing on serious criminal cases. Her extensive courtroom experience and dedication to justice have made her a respected figure in the legal community.
Over the years, Emily has prosecuted hundreds of cases, including many jury trials, and has taught numerous courses on topics such as DUI investigations, 4th amendment law, search warrant writing, and arson investigations.
Emily’s transition to Parks Zeigler marks an exciting new chapter in her career. She is expanding her legal practice to include civil litigation and family law matters. Additionally, Emily is an accredited attorney with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, enabling her to advocate for disabled veterans before the Board of Veterans Appeals.
“Emily’s extensive background in criminal law and trial advocacy makes her a tremendous asset to our firm,” said Brandon H. Zeigler, one of the Managing Members at Parks Zeigler. “Her dedication to achieving the best outcomes in every case aligns perfectly with our firm’s mission to provide personalized, technology-driven legal services. We are thrilled to have her join our team.”
Kellam T. Parks, the other Managing Member at Parks Zeigler, added, “Emily’s passion for justice and her legal scholarship, coupled with extensive litigation experience, will be invaluable to our clients. We are excited to see her thrive in her new role and contribute to the growth of our North Carolina office.”
Emily’s diverse legal experience and her passion for serving clients will allow Parks Zeigler to continue delivering top-notch legal services across a wide range of practice areas. Her expertise will be indispensable to clients navigating complex legal matters, including family law and veterans’ claims.
About Parks Zeigler, PLLC
Founded in 2012, Parks Zeigler, PLLC is a technology-forward law firm with offices in Hampton Roads and Northeastern, NC, providing legal services in many areas including family law, criminal defense, civil litigation, cybersecurity, estate planning, and more. With a commitment to leveraging technology to improve client service, Parks Zeigler continues to grow its team of experienced attorneys to meet the evolving needs of its clients.
For more information about Parks Zeigler, PLLC and its services, visit www.pzlaw.com or call (757) 453-7744.
Centrally located on the waterfront in downtown Elizabeth City, our team provides quality legal representation across the following counties in the Northeast North Carolina region.
Also serving only criminal and traffic cases in the following counties:
Parks Zeigler, PLLC – Attorneys At Law
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