Governance
The Supreme Court of Virginia has approved amendments to Rule 1.17, Rule 1.18, Rule 5.5, and Paragraph 13.

The Supreme Court of Virginia seeks volunteers to serve on Med Mal Review Panels.

Be a leader in the Virginia State Bar! We are seeking lawyers interested in being on the ballot for Bar Council. Details here.

The Virginia State Bar seeks Virginia lawyers and nonlawyers to serve on its many boards and committees that work to improve the legal system in the Commonwealth. 

The VSB Nominating Committee also seeks leaders for a variety of boards and committees. Please consider volunteering to be a part of your Bar.

The VSB proposes changes to the bylaws governing the election of the President-elect.

The Court has issued its 15th Judicial Emergency due to COVID-19, extended through January 24, 2021.

January 8 is the deadline to submit your comments on a number of proposed rule changes including:
  • the completion period for the Professionalism Course
  • reducing the delinquency fees for Rules violations
  • reducing the Clients' Protection Fund Assessment
  • and Real Estate Settlement Agent regulations and Legal Aid Societies.
The proposed changes and the process for submitting comments may be found here.
Discipline
Gordon Bradford Jones, license suspended, effective July 6, 2020.
Barry Ray Taylor, administratively suspended, effective December 8, 2020.
OlaDipo Akinwunmi AkinDeko, license suspended, effective December 11, 2020.
Michael Denis Kmetz, license suspended, effective October 24, 2022.
Sam Goldstein, public reprimand, effective December 7, 2020.
Compliance
Have you finished your 2020 CLE requirement? All CLE hours, whether used for compliance or carryover, need to be reported to our office no later than 4:45 p.m. EST February 15, 2021. Report your CLE hours online by logging into your account on the Virginia State Bar website by no later than 4:45 p.m. EST February 15, 2021. Our office is closed to visitors, please plan accordingly. 
Have questions? Contact us by phone or email: (804) 775-0577 or MCLE@vsb.org
Pro Bono / Access to Justice
Free CLE
Make doing pro bono your 2021 New Year's Resolution!

Please join us by registering here.
The need for pro bono legal services is expected to grow significantly in 2021 given the end of the eviction moratorium and continuing economic challenges faced by our fellow Virginians related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Are you willing to help those in need? 
Express interest in volunteering here, or contact Cris Gantz at cgantz@vsb.org to discuss ways to get involved.
Opportunities and CLEs
The Senior Lawyers Conference has translated the very useful Senior Virginians Handbook into Spanish. The Manual para Adultos Mayores de Virginia is currently available online only. Thank you to the many lawyers who made this possible.

Our sections, conferences, and committees are sponsoring free CLE webinars. View a list of webinars (PDF).

Don't miss the 51st Annual Criminal Law Seminar on February 12! This annual event provides 7.0 (2.0 ethics) hours CLE and will be by live webcast. Registration here. Sponsored by the Criminal Law Section.

Join the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service! Membership is free for first time participants, and we send you prescreened referrals in your area and your area of practice. More information here, or contact Toni Dunson at dunson@vsb.org.

Looking for a job, office space, or an expert witness? Check out the VSB Classifieds today!
Virginia Lawyer magazine is for you, about you, by you.

Only one publication reaches every single member of the Virginia State Bar. Do you want to promote your firm, your new partner, your big case, or your referral program to the 50,000 readers of Virginia Lawyer? Review our new lower rates for 2021, and our ad creation program for full page advertisers.
 
Thank you to the Health Law section for sponsoring the February issue, mailing end of this month.
Stay connected to your Bar:
The VSB continues to provide essential services to Virginia’s lawyers and the public.
The VSB office at 1111 E. Main Street is closed to visitors. If you need to reach a staff person, please send an email or call the appropriate contact person. Many of our staff are teleworking and responses may be delayed. Thank you for your understanding.

This email is a service of the Virginia State Bar. Unsubscribers will not receive notices about changes to the rules of professional conduct, legal ethics opinions, compliance reminders, presidents' messages, or notices from sections and conferences of which they are a member. Read the Bar's digital privacy policy.
 
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