Rosemary Dettling Esq. - Washington, DC
Attorney at Federal Employee Legal Services Center
Employment Law Lawyers in Washington, DC
1629 K Street, N.W. Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006
Washington Employment Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/15/2026
Areas of Practice
- Employment Law
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Rosemary Dettling founded the Federal Employee Legal Services Center (FELSC). Ms. Dettling is an experienced employment law attorney. She graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 1991. Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Dettling worked as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice from 1991 to 2000. While at DOJ, Ms. Dettling gained a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of employment discrimination laws, federal sector employment case precedent, and government personnel procedures. After leaving the Department of Justice, Ms. Dettling worked as an Employment Attorney at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Throughout her tenure in the government and at FELSC, she has litigated hundreds of cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). She is assisted by a team of attorneys located throughout the United States. Ms. Dettling is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the New York Bar.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Included in the list of "Top Employment Lawyers," Washingtonian Magazine, August 6, 2025 - Present
- "Top 50 Labor & Employment Verdicts in California in 2024", January 9, 2025 - Present
Education
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Legal Education
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Notre Dame Law School,
Indiana, May, 1991
Juris Doctor
Honors: NA
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Notre Dame Law School,
Indiana, May, 1991
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Non Legal Education
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American University,
Washington,
District of Columbia, May, 1998
M.A., Master of Arts in Literature
Honors: NA
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American University,
Washington,
District of Columbia, May, 1998
Current Employment Position(s)
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Owner of FELSC/ Senior Attorney, since January 1, 2007
Past Positions
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Attorney, 1991 - 1999
- U.S. Department of Commerce, Attorney, 1999 - 2001
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Attorney, 2001 - 2007
Languages
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English
Pro Bono Activities
- Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, July 16, 1994 - May 7, 1999
Representative Cases
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ROYLAN G. DAMWYK, Plaintiff, v. FRANK KENDALL, III, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Defendant.
- Court: U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- Year: 2025
- Serial Number: Case No. 2:22-cv-04424-HDV-SK.
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, pro hac vice, 2025
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, pro hac vice, 2025
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, pro hac vice, 2023
- District of Columbia, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2023
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2007
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2022
- New York, 2022
Specialties and Certifications
- Civil Rights
- Employment Law
- Discrimination
Other Affiliations
- Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), July 8, 2008 - Present
Reviews
Customer Reviews for Rosemary Dettling Esq.
Highlights
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4.8 Value
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5.0 Quality of Service
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4.8 Professional Competence
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Hired Attorney 2016-2025I was worried about hiring an attorney in DC so far away from where I live (LA), but I was pleasantly surprised by how responsive they were. I am a long-time client. A while ago, I was terminated after requesting accommodation, and Ms. Dettling was able to get me reinstated. She did it for a flat rate, which was very reasonable. A few years later, I discussed the VERA resignation option with her and decided to take it. No sooner had I signed the paper than the military informed me that I had to buy back my active-duty time. It would have been thousands of dollars. Ms. Dettling was able to resolve the issue without me having to make any payments. Good job!
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Hired Attorney 2022-2023They were very patient and helped me understand the legal principles of my case and what I needed to do to win. They discussed the burdens of proof and never talked down to me. They hardly ever billed for phone calls an administrative things like emails. I was pleased to learn that my retainer was used sparingly and only for work that had to be completed for the judge. They definitely do not gouge you. I am always suspicions and was pleasantly surprised that they dispelled all my previous opinions of lawyers.
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Hired Attorney 2017-2020Words cannot even begin to describe how grateful I am for the truly exceptional services that I received from Rosemary Dettling Esquire and Kristen Farr Esquire of the Federal Employees Legal Services Center (FELSC). Their attention to detail and their dedication speaks volumes. I reached out to this firm for legal assistance when I was at my lowest point and all other avenues of redress to resolve the issues at the lowest level, were exhausted. When I finally decided to hire them, the Agency knew that I meant business. They came in and performed miracles. The backstory, I hired them to represent me regarding a case against my former Agency for discrimination; based upon race and disability; retaliation, and for subjecting hostile work environment. FELSC was extremely knowledgeable regarding these matters and got straight to work defending me. They were very reasonably priced compared to other law firms in the National Capital Region (NCR) and quite frankly, had better reviews over the others as well. I now know that positive reviews were spot on. Upon speaking Mrs. Dettling, It was obvious that she truly cared about my case and was adamant about seeking justice. She stuck by my side every step of the way. She wasn't out to nickel and dime me like I hear other firms have done to victims in the area. Mrs. Dettling worked tirelessly and effortlessly on my case day and night, while showing the utmost compassion. I was able to text, email, or call her anytime, and she'd respond right away. If you haven't guessed, I am EXTREMELY greatful for the level of service that I received. If I'm ever faced with the circumstances that I previously faced, she is the ONLY attorney that I'd trust to call. She showed great deal of empathy and persistence in my case throughout. She was able to put the facts of my case together quickly and highlighted things that I wasn't even aware of in order to build a strong defense. I remember reading that Mrs. Dettling is a shark when defending her clients. That in my opinion would be an understatement. She didn't take any crap from the Agency when they tried pull their typical tricks to disrupt and sabotage my case. You can tell that she was very well respected and highly regarded by the Judge. The end result was that Mrs. Dettling was able to negotiate a very generous settlement from the Agency, and ultimately ending a nightmare that lasted for years. I know that I could've never accomplished this without the assistance of Rosemary, Kirsten, and the FELSC team. They, in my opinion, are true champions of justice and social change. If you need a good lawyer, don't think about it, just do it. You can thank me later.
Photo
Contact
1629 K Street, N.W.
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-390-4741
Fax: 202-379-9772
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.felsc.com/
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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