Governance
Be a VSB leader in 2023: Virginia lawyers are needed to run for VSB Council and to volunteer in the disciplinary system or serve on a variety of VSB committees beginning July 1, 2023.
 
The VSB seeks public comment on proposed amendments to the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia, Part 6, Section IV, Paragraph 13-24 regarding reciprocal disciplinary proceedings. 

On January 6, the Supreme Court of Virginia approved LEO 1899 on whether a lawyer representing a client on a flat (or fixed) fee agreement can provide for an alternative fee arrangement (a conversion clause) if the client terminates the relationship without cause.
 
The Court also amended the Virginia Legal Aid Counsel Rule that allows non-Virginia lawyers to apply for a certificate as a Virginia Legal Aid Counsel to practice in Virginia when employed by a Virginia Licensed Legal Aid Society.

On January 18, 2023, the Supreme Court of Virginia approved a petition by the VSB and its Council to amend Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 3(c) of the Rules of Court regarding judicial class membership in the VSB.
Compliance
The deadline for reporting 2022 MCLE hours and paying outstanding MCLE delinquency fees for the 2022 compliance period is March 15, 2023, at 4:45 pm ET. 

Use the 2022 MCLE Form 1 or Notice of Noncompliance to report remaining hours.
 
Pay fees online using the VSB Member Portal. Mastercard and Visa are acceptable forms of payment. 

Review MCLE deadline information. Please contact the MCLE Department if you have any questions regarding MCLE compliance.
The Supreme Court of Virginia has amended the Rules concerning IOLTA accounts affecting lawyers in private practice. The compliance deadline is July 1, 2023. Have questions? More information and answers are on the VSB website.
Discipline
Disciplinary hearings are public meetings found on the disciplinary docket and on the VSB calendar.
Joseph T. Prendergast, license suspended, effective January 26, 2023.
Duncan Kenner Brent, administrative suspension, effective January 10, 2023.
Brittani Nata’lita Baldwin, administrative suspension, effective January 4, 2023.
Kevin Benedict Rack, public reprimand, effective December 27, 2022.
Susan Page Allen, public reprimand, effective January 4, 2023.
Robert Overbey Jr., public reprimand, effective January 13, 2023.
Private discipline: admonitions – 4; reprimands – 2
Virginia Lawyer Referral Service
As of February 1, pay no annual fee to join or renew VLRS panel membership!

Why join?
  • Grow your firm’s business.
  • The VLRS has generated more than $3 million in reported revenue for participating attorneys in the last three years.
  • Free CLE programs throughout the year. Ethics CLE coming in March!
  • Free section membership. Choose any two from the full list of VSB offerings!
Contact Toni Dunson at tdunson@vsb.org to join or learn more.
Pro Bono / Access to Justice
Nominate a pro bono hero for one of these awards by April 7, 2023:
  • Virginia Legal Aid Award
  • Oliver White Hill Pro Bono Law Student Award
Full details on our webpage.
Get to 30! Challenge — Two Months to the Finish Line!
There’s still time to sign up! Lawyers who complete the challenge will be recognized in Virginia Lawyer and at the Access to Legal Services Committee 30th Anniversary Dinner at the VSB Annual Meeting in June. Service hours and donations you’ve made since July 1, 2022, can be counted.
Events, Awards, and CLE
The Honorable Robert E. Payne, senior United States District Court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, has been awarded the prestigious Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Award for 2023 by the Virginia State Bar Section on Criminal Law. The award will be presented at the Criminal Law Seminar on February 10 in Williamsburg.
Plan to attend the 53rd Criminal Law Seminar on February 3 in Charlottesville or February 10 in Williamsburg. Topics include recent criminal law developments, admission of the defendant's mental condition, cross-examination and the proffer, what to do with a guilty verdict, the 2022 legislative update, and ethics in criminal practice.

Earn 7.0 CLE credits and network with your fellow criminal practitioners, commonwealth's attorneys, and judges.
The 2023 VSB Techshow is virtual April 24. Up to 7 hours of LIVE CLE credits (3 Ethics) are possible, depending on your session attendance. Your $50 registration fee includes access to sessions you don’t attend live, for a total of 13 hours CLE/3 hours Ethics if you watch all sessions. That’s a full year of CLE for just $50!
The VSB Annual Meeting is June 14-17 in Virginia Beach. Great CLEs, fun receptions, sporting events, networking, and the induction of 2023-24 VSB President Chidi I. James are just some of the reasons we hope you will attend.
Don't forget to check out the VSB's list of free and low cost webinar CLEs.
AWARD NOMINATIONS:
Nominate your colleagues for these prestigious awards.   
The Diversity Conference Issue features articles on diversity in the law, why Americans don't love the metric system, the Fourth Circuit's gender dysphoria ruling, and the IRS and third-party payment apps.

Write for us! If you are a member of the VSB, you are qualified to write for Virginia Lawyer. Have a non-legal topic you are interested in writing about? We'd like to hear about it as well! Email Dee Norman, or call her at 804-775-0594.

Virginia Lawyer reaches about 50,000 VSB lawyers, judges, and law schools in Virginia and across the country. Let us help you promote your firm, your services, or your law school. Contact Dee Norman to learn more.
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