Home > Member Resources > A&O: First Year in Practice Resources and Information
Young Lawyers Conference: www.vayounglawyers.org
Mandatory Professionalism Course: www.vsb.org/images/uploads/professionalism (pdf)*
The Professionalism Course is mandatory within one year of licensing for all newly active attorneys in Virginia. There are seven courses offered each year across the Commonwealth.
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education: www.vsb.org/site/members/mcle-courses
Virginia Lawyer Referral Service:
Questions: What’s an inexpensive resource to advertise my new law practice and/or expand my existing client base? How can I educate the public of their rights and establish a new client/attorney relationship? Answers: click here!!! www.vsb.org/site/members/lawyer-referral/
Pro Bono Information: www.vsb.org/site/pro_bono/
This site includes free and nominal fee training opportunities for public interest lawyers and pro bono attorneys as well as volunteer opportunities, and contact information for Virginia’s legal aid societies and public defender offices.
Checklist for Opening Your First Office: http://www.vsb.org/site/publications/first-law-office
Lawyers and Other People's Money; A Resource for Maintaining Trust Accounts: http://www.vsb.org/docs/Lawyers_OPM_electronic.pdf
Many other useful publications can be found at www.vsb.org/site/publications/
VSB Sections: www.vsb.org/site/members/sections/
There are twenty sections of the Virginia State Bar. Each is a separate group devoted to improving the practice of law in a particular substantive area or specialty practice. Section membership is open to all members in good standing of the Virginia State Bar. Many sections also have law student and associate memberships. The sections are supported by dues which range from $10 to $35.
Supreme Court of Virginia: www.courts.state.va.us
This is the Web site for the Virginia Judicial System.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov
The public Web site for access to the Court's opinions (posted daily), docket entries through PACER, oral argument calendar, and rules, procedures and forms. You can also link to other federal court Web sites.
U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia: www.vawd.uscourts.gov
The public Web site of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is designed to inform members of the public and the bar of procedures observed by the Court, provide assistance with those procedures and indicate the status of cases maintained by the Office of the Clerk.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia: www.vaed.uscourts.gov
This Web site contains links to all four divisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia as well as access to case records, local bankruptcy rules, forms, fee schedules, court calendars, and opinions issued by judges of the court. The General Information page links to many sources of information about the federal courts and bankruptcy law. The CM/ECF page www.vaeb.uscourts.gov/ecfnew/ecf.htm provides all the material necessary to file and process bankruptcy cases electronically.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia: www.vawb.uscourts.gov/courtweb/enter1.html
Home page, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia: www.vaeb.uscourts.gov
This site contains links to local rules of practice for EDVA, information on electronic case filing, forms, calendar, court docket for Eastern Division, special information on each divisional office and a link to the PACER Web site.
Old Dominion Bar Association: www.odba.org
Established in 1941, the Old Dominion Bar Association is the oldest African American legal association in Virginia
The Virginia Bar Association: www.vba.org
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of Virginia lawyers committed to serving the public and the legal profession by promoting the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and excellence in the legal profession; working to improve the law and the administration of justice; and advancing collegial relations among lawyers.
Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys: www.vada.org
The VADA is a statewide voluntary bar organization providing education opportunities, information sharing and networking among attorneys who primarily defend civil legal actions.
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association: www.vtla.com/va/
VTLA is a voluntary bar association providing continuing legal education, legislative representation, publications and information to assist trial attorneys and the citizens they represent.
Virginia Women Attorneys Association: www.vwaa.org
The only statewide bar association dedicated to the needs of women attorneys in Virginia as professionals and as women.
American Bar Association: www.abanet.org
Attorneys Liability Protection Society: www.alpsnet.com
ALPS provides professional liability insurance to Virginia Attorneys and is endorsed and affiliated by the Virginia State Bar.
Lawyers Helping Lawyers: www.valhl.org
Confidential, non-disciplinary help for lawyers, judges, law students and their family memberswith substance abuse or mental health problems.
Virginia CLE: www.vacle.org
Virginia CLE is the bar-sponsored provider of continuing legal education seminars and publications. “The gold standard for CLE in Virginia since 1960.�
The Virginia State Bar Members Insurance Center: www.vsbmic.com
The Virginia State Bar Members Insurance Center is a full-service consultant for health, and other insurance benefits focused solely on Virginia State Bar Members.
Virginia Law Foundation Fellows Mentor Program: www.virginialawfoundation.org/fellowmentor.htm
Provides guidance to new lawyers in matters of professionalism, local customs, practices and procedures, and general substantive legal issues, and is provided free of charge to recently licensed Virginia lawyers.