Voices from Across My Office: Civil Litigation Division
At the Office of the Attorney General, we’re proud of the broad array of work we do on behalf of the District, and the hundreds of employees who make our agency run. “Voices from Across My Office” is a blog series highlighting some of the people behind our efforts and the variety of work they do to support, defend, and stand up for District residents. This week’s spotlight is on the Civil Litigation Division.
About the Civil Litigation Division
The Civil Litigation Division (CLD) defends the District of Columbia government and its employees in civil lawsuits filed in the District’s local and federal courts. CLD is one of the largest divisions at OAG and it represents over 80 District government agencies in a wide variety of civil suits, including common law torts, suits alleging employment discrimination, and complex constitutional challenges.
This division plays a critical role as stewards of District tax dollars, and saves the District hundreds of millions of dollars in claimed liability every year. CLD’s attorneys, paralegals, and support staff are dedicated to ensuring that taxpayer money and resources are managed and dispersed in a responsible manner, while advising District agencies to reduce District liability and protect residents.
CLD is divided into six sections: four General Litigation Sections, the Equity Section, and Civil Enforcement Section. The General Litigation Sections handle cases where plaintiffs seek monetary damages from the District, and Equity specializes in cases that are class actions or primarily involve requests for injunctive relief. The Civil Enforcement Section enforces decisions by the District’s regulatory agencies in administrative courts and in the Superior Court.
Below are some of the extraordinary and mission-driven people that make up our Civil Litigation Division.
Staff Spotlights
Name: LaShawna Lynch
Title: Paralegal Specialist
Time at OAG: 15 years
Tell us a little about yourself and your path to OAG.
I have been a paralegal since 1989 — it’s the only job I’ve ever done. First, I worked as a paralegal in the U.S. Army. When I got out of the service, I worked in private industry for over 10 years at Consolidated Analysis Center Incorporated. After working in private industry, I wanted to transition to something more stable and related to public interest work. I came to OAG in 2006 and I’ve been in the Civil Litigation division the whole time!
What drew you to work in Civil Litigation?
The fact that no case is the same and it’s fast paced. Since we represent the government, it’s possible to get sued for anything and everything. Therefore, it’s our job to figure out what really happened and then make an assessment about whether money is legitimately owed.
It’s not always flashy, but it’s important work that I enjoy as evidenced by the fact that I’ve been in CLD for 15 years.
How does your paralegal experience in the Army and private practice translate to the work you do now in government?
I think it helps me bring a fresh set of eyes and perspective to any case. When I was in the Army, I worked on every area of law you could think of — administrative, prosecution, and defense. And when I was in private industry, we had more paralegals and staff to support major trials and big productions.
So now when I’m working on cases in civil, I’m not only viewing the issues of the case in a different way, but I’m also thinking about how to execute on the work with fewer resources than I had in private practice. The well-rounded experience forces me to think more creatively and effectively about how to support the attorneys.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
Well, around the office everyone knows that I like to cook. My go-to dishes that colleagues never stop asking me to make are my mac & cheese and salted caramel brownies (only those in my section have been privileged to get these). But I don’t mind sharing good food with good people. I’m also a grandmother of 3.
Name: Christina Okereke
Title: Section Chief, Section II
Time at OAG: 5 years
Tell us a little about your role as a Section Chief.
I’m a Section Chief in one of our general litigation sections. I supervise the Assistant Attorneys General in litigating their cases. I review their written work, help them determine case strategy, and at times, appear in court. It’s rewarding to help train young lawyers and watch them grow and develop their skills.
Tell us about you and what drove you to go to law school.
I always knew that I wanted to do something in public service, and I went to law school for that reason. While in law school, I found an internship in a prosecutor’s office working in the appeals section. That experience inspired me to become a government lawyer and affirmed my love of legal writing — particularly, delving into the research and forming a persuasive argument to convince the court of my position.
When I became a lawyer, my first job was with the New York AG’s Office focusing primarily on civil rights and employment law matters.
Did you ever hold a position either related or unrelated to the law that helps you in your current position?
I did AmeriCorps for a year, which was a profound experience. I worked with a diverse group of people — both the AmeriCorps members and staff as well as the communities I was assigned to work with. When you do that kind of work — helping under-served communities — you learn how to meet people where they are and listen.
As a lawyer, that lesson applies to my clients facing legal issues. I always try my best to listen intently to their side of the story in order to come up with a strategy that helps them and saves money for District taxpayers.
Do you have any out of work hobbies?
Playing and watching tennis. I play at local tennis courts when I can. And I always try to make it to the U.S. Open.
Name: Matthew Trout
Title: Assistant Attorney General, Section 2
Time at OAG: 2 years
Tell us a little about your role and how it impacts District residents.
We handle civil defense cases — which can vary in their size, scope, and issue area. There is a public interest in ensuring that all cases are evaluated with fairness. We are ultimately stewards of government resources, so we must ensure that funds are paid out when it is legally sufficient to do so and work with agencies to improve their practices to decrease future liabilities.
Did you have any experience either related or unrelated to the law that helps you currently?
I clerked in the D.C. Superior Court for Judge Iscoe for two years and for Judge Park for several months. The experience of researching, writing, and recommending arguments to judges helps me in my current position — especially when it comes to complex civil litigation.
What pulled you towards public service?
In law school, I never had an interest in working for a big law firm. I started at OAG in 2015 right after law school as a Ruff Fellow. That experience cemented my interest in doing public interest work. I find public interest work interesting and challenging — especially in Civil Litigation where no two cases are the same.
Latest book you read?
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. It’s a modern take on an old story that’s a great, fast-paced read. It deservingly won the Orange Prize for Fiction.
What is something you do outside of work?
I’m a big crossword puzzle fan — not just solving them but writing them too. Back in December 2020, one of my puzzles was accepted by the New York Times!
Name: Katrina Seeman — but call me Kati
Title: Assistant Attorney General, Section 3
Time at OAG: 2 years
Tell us about your path to OAG and becoming a lawyer.
I started as a Ruff Fellow and was able to transition into a full-time position. But all my prior work was in government. I worked at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa for two years and in law school I interned for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. And locally, I also worked for the District Department of Transportation.
Public service seems to be a trend with you. Why is that?
Growing up, my family was a foster-family for over ten years. This gave me an up-close view of the impact the legal system, and how rewarding it is to part of something bigger than myself. And I find that to be true in government work as well — the work we do impacts District residents, from their sidewalks to their Constitutional rights.
Any outside of work hobbies?
I’m currently training for a half marathon.
If you could have any job other than being a lawyer, what would it be and why?
Zookeeper — so I can have an emotional support panda.
