The Civil Litigation Division (“CLD”) defends the District of Columbia, and its agencies and officials, in civil actions brought by and against the District. Cases include challenges under the Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Amendment violations/Civil Rights cases, negligence, false arrest, employment discrimination, administrative decisions of agencies, education services, and contracts.

Interns recruited by the section work on discovery, research, writing, investigation, and document review. They are involved in formal proceedings associated with civil litigation, including depositions, mediations, court hearings, and potentially, trials.

The CLD is comprised of four (4) general litigation sections. The attorneys in each section are supervised by a section chief who, in turn are supervised by an Assistant Deputy Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General of the Division. In addition, four General Counsels for District agencies report to the Deputy of the Division.

General Litigation Sections: The four General Litigation sections defend the District of Columbia, its agencies, and its employees in hundreds of cases that are brought every year for monetary damages. The claims vary widely in subject matter. Cases include common-law claims alleging injuries of varying severity arising out of auto accidents, slips and falls, medical malpractice, and supervision of individuals in the custody or care of the District. In addition, the Division defends the District in constitutional and related common-law challenges to misconduct by police and/or other District employees, and against employment-discrimination claims brought under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (as amended), the Americans with Disabilities Act, the DC Human Rights Act, and other statutes. One of the four sections also represents the District in breach-of-contract actions before the Contract Appeals Board.

The four General Counsels who report to the Deputy are for the following District agencies: Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration; Child and Family Services Agency; Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking; and DC Taxicab Commission.