On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board accepted an agreed disposition resulting in a nine-month suspension of Attorney Allysa Fredrika Woods’ license to practice law in Virginia, effective immediately. The decision stemmed from a disciplinary case involving Woods’ representation of a client, Joann A. Carter, and her failure to respond to inquiries from the Virginia State Bar (VSB).

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Allysa Fredrika Woods,” with case no. 24-042-131886.

Woods entered into a retainer agreement with Carter on November 24, 2020, to handle real estate matters, including mortgage negotiations and post-divorce litigation related to a property in North Carolina co-owned with Carter’s ex-husband. Carter, a Virginia resident, paid Woods a $3,000 advance fee at a rate of $300 per hour. The agreement aimed to remove Carter from the property’s deed, loan, and title, which negatively impacted her credit. A Florida court’s final judgment allowed Carter to act independently on a short sale of the property if her ex-husband, residing in Florida, did not cooperate.

Carter paid the $3,000 fee on December 1, 2020, but Woods provided no invoices, accountings, or documentation regarding the use of the funds. Communication between Woods and Carter occurred intermittently from 2021 to 2023. In September 2022, Carter supplied Woods with a certified copy of the Florida judgment, expecting Woods to domesticate it in Virginia.

In a March 8, 2023, email, Woods informed Carter that the case was pending in court, with a scheduling conference set for July and a potential final hearing in August or September. On August 11, 2023, Woods reported that Carter’s ex-husband did not appear in court, requiring further service and a brief to establish the court’s jurisdiction over the North Carolina property. However, Woods ceased responding to Carter’s inquiries after this email and provided no filings, complaints, or briefs to clarify the case’s status.

Carter filed a complaint with the VSB on April 23, 2024. The VSB made multiple attempts to contact Woods, starting with an April 26, 2024, letter requesting communication with Carter, followed by letters on May 9 and May 23, 2024, and a subpoena duces tecum on July 11, 2024, demanding Woods’ client file and trust account records. Woods failed to respond to these requests, including the subpoena, which was delivered on July 16, 2024. Additional attempts by VSB staff and investigators to reach Woods in June, July, August, and November 2024 were unsuccessful, with Woods citing software issues but providing no documents or responses.

On August 30, 2024, Bar Counsel filed a notice of noncompliance, leading to an interim suspension of Woods’ license on September 13, 2024. The Disciplinary Board found that Woods violated Rule 8.1(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct by failing to respond to lawful demands for information from the VSB.

The agreed disposition requires Woods to repay Carter $3,000 in certified funds by June 27, 2025, and provide proof of payment to Bar Counsel. Failure to comply will result in a two-year suspension. Woods must also notify clients, opposing counsel, and judges of her suspension within 14 days and arrange for the disposition of client matters within 45 days, with proof of compliance due within 60 days. The VSB will assess costs for the disciplinary proceedings.

The Disposition states:

“WHEREFORE, upon consideration Of the Agreed Disposition, the Certification, Respondent’s Disciplinary Record, the arguments of the parties, and after due deliberation, It is ORDERED that the Disciplinary Board accepts the Agreed Disposition and the Respondent shall receive a Nine Month Suspension with Terms, as set forth in the Agreed Disposition, which is attached and incorporated in this Memorandum Order.”

According to Avvo.com, Ms. Woods is a business attorney in Alexandria, Virginia. She acquired her law license in Virginia in 2015.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.