The VBA Voice

The independent voice of Virginia lawyers Jan. 11, 2016

In This Issue

Renewal Time

Insurance Corner

Annual Meeting Approaches

First Day in Practice

Legislative Update

VBA Journal: The Legacy of Loving

Thanks from The VBA Foundation

Leadership Slate for 2016

Leadership Conference

Time to renew

Continue to build your referral base. Enjoy lifelong friendships with your colleagues, peers and mentors. Learn. Socialize. Renew your VBA membership for 2016!

Paper invoices have gone out. You can pay by check and return the invoice by mail, or simply log on to vba.org and renew safely and easily online.

ONLINE RENEWAL

Welcome to our newest or reactivating members.

November additions

December additions

*Excludes new admittees

Did you know...

... that your business with Virginia Barristers Alliance Inc. (VBAI) supports your profession?

VBAI returns profits to The Virginia Bar Association to help support programs, services and year-round advocacy for attorneys.

We would be happy to help analyze your firm's exposure and provide insurance solutions.

Please contact VBAI today and let's get started. Who better to help you than an agency founded by Virginia lawyers, for Virginia lawyers?

Call 1-844-370-9218, visit virginiabarristersalliance.com, or

CONTACT VBAI

Upcoming events

REGISTER NOW

Jan. 21-23

126th Annual Meeting,
Williamsburg

SAVE THE DATE

Feb. 4
ABC Networking Social,
Richmond

Feb. 25
2016 Leadership Conference, for VBA board members, section and division and committee leaders,
Richmond

April 4-15
10th Annual Legal Food Frenzy,
Statewide

April 29
19th Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference,
Williamsburg

July 21-23
126th Summer Meeting,
Hot Springs

VBA Calendar

VBA News

VBA Online CLE

Your destination
for on-demand
CLE courses.

Legal Food Frenzy

and earn 100 extra points.

Go to http://www.legalfoodfrenzy.com

Dear ,

It's the dawn of a new year and 2016 at the VBA promises to be even better than 2015. We're honored that you've chosen the VBA as Your Law Partner for Life. Read on.

Are you Annual Meeting bound?

It's just 10 days now until the 126th Annual Meeting in Colonial Williamsburg.

All set?
Rooms booked

Meeting registration submitted

Membership renewed

Then all that remains is to anticipate the event and pack your bags for the trip to the Williamsburg Lodge for the Jan. 21-23 meeting.

If you haven't yet signed up, it's not too late. In fact, the early registration discount is good through Tuesday, Jan. 12.

EVENT WEBPAGE

VBA recruits fall new admittees

Steven Gould_ right_ with fall new admittee. Photo by Lizzy Servito

The Virginia State Bar's First Day in Practice in early December was a great opportunity to recruit newly licensed lawyers to join the VBA for a complimentary year of membership. With the help of several VBA Young Lawyers Division volunteers, we informed many of the 810 new admittees about the benefits of VBA membership and encouraged a significant number to join.

General Assembly gathers soon

The VBA 2016 Legislative Agenda includes at least 15 pieces of legislation to bring before the General Assembly when it convenes Jan. 13.

The Board of Governors agreed to support five draft bills from four Sections and two from the VBA Commission on the Needs of Children. Boyd-Graves Conference 2015_ by Yvonne McGhee

Boyd-Graves Conference 2015_ by Yvonne McGhee

Additionally, the VBA will advocate eight proposals from the Boyd-Graves Conference, which seeks to improve civil justice in Virginia through law reform. The VBA provides administrative and legislative support for the conference.

A link to the VBA Legislative Agenda will appear on the Advocacy page of the VBA website as soon as finalized, which will occur once all approved proposals have bill numbers associated with them. A preliminary look at the agenda was published in the winter VBA Journal.

During the General Assembly session, bill progress will be updated on the VBA website Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 2016 session is scheduled to adjourn on March 12.

VBA Journal: The legacy of Loving

The winter issue of the VBA Journal is in the mail and available online. This issue features three articles linked to the summer U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage and its affect on family law and wills and estates in the commonwealth. The journal also features an article on the future of public-private partnerships in transportation projects and on some VBA pro bono proponents.

Thanks to VBA Foundation patrons

To the 245 members who gave generously to The Virginia Bar Association Foundation in 2015, thank you.

Your generosity to the nonprofit foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity, supports the charitable goals and educational purposes of the VBA.

Furthermore, while your gifts enable the VBA to expand its reach and amplify its efforts, eligible donors may benefit at tax time from the deductibility of their contributions.

In 2015, your dollars aided six Young Lawyers Division projects, including the regional contest for National Moot Court, the Model Judiciary and the Legal Food Frenzy. Four VBA public service and educational programs also benefited, including the Veterans Issues Task Force and Law Practice Management Division educational programs.

Already, 18 individuals have become patrons of The Virginia Bar Association Foundation for 2016. The average donation is $466. Thank you!

Giving categories begin at Patron ($150-$249), and rise five levels to Legacy ($2,500 and above). Follow the link below or select a VBA Foundation donation level when you renew your dues either online or when paying your invoice by check.

DONATE TO THE VBA FOUNDATION

Leadership Slate for 2016

Before the Annual Meeting membership vote, meet the 2016 VBA Leadership Slate. This four-page brochure contains short bios of the new officers and the proposed slate of representatives for the Board of Governors, as well as division leaders and the VBA general counsel. It also praises the devotion and service of VBA leaders who are rotating off the board.

VBA Leadership Conference Feb. 25

VBA officers, Board of Governors members, and chairs and vice chairs of Sections, Divisions, Committees and VBA-affiliated groups are invited to the VBA Leadership Conference. Held early in the year, Feb. 25 this year, this meeting introduces VBA leaders to the mechanics of the organization and encourages planning for 2016.

The event, at the Hunton & Williams LLP office in Richmond, will start at 10 a.m. and will last into midday.

The Virginia Bar Association is the largest statewide voluntary group for lawyers, judges and law professors.