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Virginia State Bar Newsletter February 2020

January 31, 2020

Virginia State Bar Newsletter February 2020

The following went out as part of a monthly news summary email to all Virginia lawyers on January 31. To make sure you are receiving the VSB emails, update your contact information with the Virginia State Bar and add vsbnews@vsb.org to your email account’s address book.

Governance

Effective immediately, the Supreme Court of Virginia approved two new Legal Ethics Opinions, 1890 and 1891, regarding communication with represented persons and with represented government officials. And effective immediately, the Court amended portions of Rule 3B:2 and Rule 3C:2 regarding uniform fine schedule. The Court also amended a number of Rules to take effect March 15. Full details here.

The Standing Committee on Legal Ethics seeks comments on proposed amendments to Rule 1.8 (concerning sexual relations with a current client), a proposed new legal ethics opinion, and amendments to existing LEO 1850. Comments deadline has been extended until March 20.

The VSB seeks comments by Feb 7 on amendments to the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia to clarify classes of membership, as well as to add an email address of record requirement , and eliminate ambiguous terminology.

Bar Council, the Virginia State Bar’s governing body, will hold its annual elections by electronic ballot in April for terms beginning July 1. Virginia lawyers who wish to be on the ballot must be active members in good standing of their circuit as of March 15, 2020. Instructions are included at this link if you wish to file for election.

The VSB has many opportunities for lawyers wishing to volunteer as a Bar leader. Please consider being a part of regulating and improving your profession.

Corporate Counsel reminder: The Supreme Court of Virginia amended Rule 1A:5 regarding Virginia Corporate Counsel and Corporate Counsel Registrants, effective January 1, 2020. These rule changes do not apply to Corporate Counsel Registrants under Part Two and require no action by lawyers currently certificated under Part One. Read the details here.

Discipline

Recent disciplinary actions :

Philip R. Farthing, license revoked, effective January 21, 2020.
Danielle Madison Holt Lewis, license suspended, effective January 13, 2020.
Randall Sousa, license suspended, effective January 24, 2020.
Kenneth Steven Kaufman, license suspended, effective January 28, 2020.
Vaughan Christopher Jones, public reprimand, e ffective January 16, 2020
David Colin Jones Jr., public reprimand, effective January 21, 2020.

Compliance

Still haven’t finished your 2019 CLE requirements? To avoid suspension, all 2019 CLE hours and delinquency fees must be received by this office no later than 4:45 p.m. EST March 10, 2020 . You may pay your Noncompliance Fee and Late Filing Fees online with a Visa or Mastercard. Please use a verifiable delivery service such as FedEx or UPS close to the deadline. Postmarks are not considered. Fax or emails are not accepted for 2019 compliance. Instructions for compliance and a blank Form 1 End of Year Report for your use may be found on our website. Your continued good standing is important to us. Please call if you have any questions: (804) 775-0577.

Pro Bono / Access to Justice

Nominate an access to justice hero! The Virginia Legal Aid Award and Oliver White Hill Law Student Pro Bono Award nominations deadline is March 6 by 5 p.m. Nomination information.

The Black Family Land Trust Legal Services Advisory Committee is working to develop a pro bono program for delivering legal services to landowners in need. Please contact Crista Gantz at cgantz@vsb.org if you would like to help.

2020 CLE, Events and Awards

The Hon. Junius P. Fulton III of the Norfolk Circuit Court has won the 2020 Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Award, the highest award given by the VSB's Criminal Law section, to "an individual (judge, defense attorney, prosecutor, clerk or other citizen) who has made a singular and unique contribution to the improvement of the criminal justice system in the Commonwealth of Virginia." The award will be presented at the 50th Annual Criminal Law Seminar in Williamsburg.

50th Annual Criminal Law Seminars: Register Now
Dean Mark D. Martin, Regent School of Law: Charlottesville, February 7

James B. Comey Jr., author and former FBI director, Williamsburg, February 14

Bar Leaders Institute, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond – March 6.
YLC Bench-Bar Conference, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens – March 13.
Solo & Small-Firm Practitioner Forum, Eastern Shore Community College, Melfa – April 3.
Techshow CLE, Richmond Convention Center April 27 – early registration is open.
Leroy R. Hassell Sr. Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar, Richmond Convention Center; (Remote locations: Wytheville Meeting Center and James Madison University, Festival Conference & Student Center, Harrisonburg) – May 1.
Litigation CLEs: Discovery Disputes: How to Avoid Them, Narrow Them, and (if necessary) Litigate Them (Register: Richmond, April 9)
Preservation of Error Bootcamp (Register: Arlington, May 8)
2020 Military Law Symposium: Serving Those Who Serve Friday, May 15, at the Gray Research Center in Quantico.
Solo & Small-Firm Practitioner Forum, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville – May 19.
VSB Annual Meeting, Virginia Beach – June 18-20.

Check out the VSB classifieds if you are looking for a new job or have a position to post. Lawyer job listings of 50 words or less are free for VSB members. Other listings are $1.50 a word for online and in Virginia Lawyer. There’s no less expensive way to reach all 50,000+ Virginia lawyers.

Updated: Jan 31, 2020

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