News and Information
May 01, 2019
Virginia State Bar Newsletter May 2019
The following went out as part of a monthly news summary email to all Virginia lawyers on March 1. To make sure you are receiving the VSB emails, update your contact information in the member portal and add vsbnews@vsb.org to the account’s address book.
Governance
The Supreme Court of Virginia adopted an amendment to Part Six, Section I of the Rules of Court governing the Unauthorized Practice of Law .
On Friday, April 26, 2019, the Court amended four Rules of Court , to become effective July 1, 2019.
The Advisory Committee on the Rules of Court of the Supreme Court of Virginia is seeking public comment on revising the rules as they pertain to the use of the potentially ambiguous word “shall.”
The Committee on Legal Ethics seeks public comment on proposed amendments to three Rules of Professional Conduct:
- Rule 1.17 (Sale of Law Practice)
- Rule 1.18 (Duties to Prospective Client)
- Rule 5.5 (Unauthorized Practice Of Law; Multi-jurisdictional Practice of Law)
The Court requests public comment on a proposal to modify Rule 3.8 (Additional Responsibilities of a Prosecutor). Comments due May 21, 2019.
On April 18, the Court adopted new rules concerning access to judicial records , effective June 17, 2019.
On April 26, 2019, the Court adopted an addition to Paragraph 17 of Part Six, Section I of the Rules of Court. Beginning in November 2019, active members must affirm that they have attended at least one hour of lawyer well-being education within the past three (3) years.
Thank you for voting! The VSB welcomes 22 newly-elected and re-elected lawyers to Bar Council, the bar’s governing body. Their three-year terms begin on July 1.
Professional Regulation
Recent disciplinary actions :
Travis Joseph Tisinger, license revoked, effective April 4, 2019.
John Michael Cassell, license revoked, effective April 26, 2019.
Nancy Beth White, license suspended, effective April 2, 2019.
Angela Dawn Whitley, license suspended, effective April 2, 2019.
Bradley Harlan Field, license suspended, effective April 5, 2019.
Christopher Ryan Jones, license suspended, effective April 9, 2019.
James Del Sordo, license suspended, effective April 26, 2019
Peter Robin Estes, license suspended, effective April 26, 2019.
The VSB Disciplinary Board rescheduled the hearing on the Reinstatement Petition of Ann Bridgeforth Tribbey of Midlothian to June 28, 2019. The background and request for public comment may be found here.
Annual Meeting
The 81st Annual Meeting registration is open! Join hundreds of lawyers from across the commonwealth this June for showcase CLEs, award ceremonies, networking, and family fun in Virginia Beach.
Registration by May 10: $180
Late Registration on or after May 10: $195
Registration is free for full-time active judges and fully retired judges.
Compliance
Annual Dues period is around the corner. Now is the time to make sure youraddress of record is correct. Log in to the members area to edit your address online or use this form to email, fax, or mail your changes to the VSB.
Note: Virginia Corporate Counsel, Corporate Counsel Registrants, Military Legal Assistance Attorneys, and Foreign Legal Consultants can only update their address using the form.
Pro Bono
Supreme Court of Virginia Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons reminds all attorneys to consider voluntarily reporting their pro bono activity.
If you’re looking for a pro bono case to take on, check out Justice Server . They are now statewide with a list and map of cases and volunteer opportunities for Virginia lawyers.
If you’re looking for a pro bono case to take on, check out Justice Server . They are now statewide with a list and map of cases and volunteer opportunities for Virginia lawyers.
Opportunities & Events
Be a mentor! The Young Lawyers Conference Mentorship Network (in partnership with the Senior Lawyers Conference) helps newer lawyers learn from experienced lawyers (retired lawyers, too). Take a quick survey if you are willing to help!
Annual Military Law Symposium 2019: Serving Those Who Serve
Military Law Section members can pre-register at a discounted rate of $125. Friday, May 17 on Marine Corps Base Quantico. 6.0 hours CLE (1.0 hours Ethics) Register here.
The April issue of Virginia Lawyer magazine is here! The Intellectual Property Section took the reins this month with articles about IP law. Read the digital version by clicking here.
Awards
Michael HuYoung of Barnes & Diehl in Richmond has been chosen as the Virginia State Bar Diversity Conference’s 2019 Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. Achievement Award recipient. The award, named after notable civil rights lawyer Clarence Dunnaville, honors a Virginia lawyer who fosters diversity in the Virginia legal profession.
Palma Pustilnik, Senior Staff Attorney and Director of Sexual Assault Advocacy Services at the Charlottesville office of Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, has received the 2019 Legal Aid Award honoring excellence in legal aid society work.
Zachary McDonnell of the William & Mary Law School class of 2019 has been awarded the Oliver White Hill Law Student Pro Bono Award which honors “extraordinary law student achievement in the areas of pro bono publico and under-compensated public service work in Virginia.”
Tom Edmonds of Richmond has received the Section on the Education of Lawyers' William R. Rakes Leadership in Education Award .
The awards will be presented at the VSB Annual Meeting on June 14th in Virginia Beach.
On April 11, Peter Buchbauer of Buchbauer & McGuire in Winchester received the Family Law section's highest honor: the Betty A. Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award that recognizes and honors an individual who has made a substantial contribution to the practice and administration of family law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Looking for a job? Or hiring for a legal position? The VSB Classifieds offer you a cost-effective way to reach all 50,000 VSB members online and in the Virginia Lawyer magazine. Ads of 50 words or less for legal jobs are free to VSB members.
Updated: May 31, 2019
