Chairman’s Message
Last year the Board of Governors of the Family Law Section circulated a questionnaire to its members as a means of gaining input from the membership on a variety of topics. The responses indicated a desire for CLE presentations focusing on issues before the J&DR Courts, as well as alternate dispute resolution. In October the Family Law Section and Virginia CLE co-sponsored the 26th Annual Family Law Seminar, which was presented in four locations throughout the Commonwealth. The program included a review of all of the family law cases decided by the Court of Appeals over the last year; presentations on protective orders, jurisdictional issues that are frequently presented in J&DR cases, and ethics; as well as a panel discussion with several J&DR judges. The program evaluations completed by those attending the CLE where overwhelmingly positive. I would like to thank all of the speakers, judges, and outline authors who helped make this a very successful program. If you were not able to attend one of the live presentations, there will be an opportunity to view a videotape replay at a later date. The CLE Committee is working on an alternate dispute resolution program to present at the Virginia State Bar annual meeting at Virginia Beach this June. If you would like to make suggestions for content or speakers, please contact Peter Buchbauer, who serves as the chair of the CLE Committee. Peter’s contact information may be found on the last page of this publication.
Please mark your calendars for the Advanced Family Law Seminar to be held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia on April 25, 2008. The program will include a comprehensive study of spousal support issues and an ethics presentation.
All of us know that the practice of family law can be very stressful at times. It is critical to our well-being that we learn to manage that stress. By doing so, we will be better spouses, better parents, and better lawyers. As another year comes to a close, many of us will be focusing on New Year’s resolutions. I encourage each of you to resolve to take actions to help you manage the daily stress that you experience as a family law practitioner. John McShane, a family lawyer in Dallas, Texas, delivered a speech titled: “Life, Law, and The Pursuit of Happiness.� In that speech John offered 55 quality of life strategies to assist in maintaining balance and harmony in the six life areas that are critical to health and happiness: (1) physical, (2) spiritual, (3) emotional, (4) professional, (5) financial, and (6) relationships. John has granted us permission to publish his speech on the Family Law Section’s website. (download and read John McShane's “Life, Law, and The Pursuit of Happiness� [pdf]) Please take a moment to read his speech and, hopefully, you will be able to incorporate some of John’s suggestions into your daily life this year and for years to come. I also want to thank The Honorable Winship C. Tower, former chair of the Family Law Section, for introducing me to John McShane through his Chair’s Message, in a 1998 issue of this publication.
Happy Holidays!
Craig E. White, Chair
(703) 777-5700