Governance
Virginia State Bar Clients’ Protection Fund Board Pays $130,014 on Twenty-three Petitions regarding six Virginia attorneys at its Sept. 15, 2023, meeting.

The VSB Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to Paragraph 13-5 and Bylaws, which adds a lay member to the Committee on Lawyer Discipline. Comments due by Dec. 18.


Ordered on November 21, 2023, the Supreme Court of Virginia has amended Rule 5A:19 effective immediately, and Rules 4:1(g), 4:8(d), 4:9(b), 5A:25, 5A:6, 5A:8, and 5A:10, effective January 20, 2024.
Volunteers Needed to Regulate the Profession
Attorneys and lay members are needed to serve beginning on July 1, 2024.

Attorneys are needed to serve on the VSB CPF Board, MCLE Board, Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, and as Council Members at Large beginning on July 1, 2024.
 
Attorney and lay member fee dispute arbitrators, as well as Supreme Court-certified attorneys and lay member mediators needed. Even if you can’t serve, but know of someone who might be willing, please put them in contact with Paulette Davidson [email protected]. Online training provided.
Discipline
Disciplinary hearings are public meetings found on the disciplinary docket and on the VSB calendar.

Charles Gregory Phillips, license revoked, effective October 18, 2023.
Dale Reese Jensen, license revoked, effective October 26, 2023.
Matt Clay Pinsker, license suspended, effective November 28, 2023.
James Randall Perkins, public reprimand, effective November 3, 2023.
Peter Linn Goldman, public reprimand, effective November 6, 2023.
Thomas Joseph Robl, public reprimand, effective November 13, 2023.
Erik M. Helbing, public reprimand, effective November 16, 2023.
Compliance
Check mark
The 2023 MCLE End of Year Report Form 1 is available for review in your member portal. Report approved courses online in the VSB Portal. If you are unable to certify a course online, follow the instructions on Form 1, available online.  

ALL CLE hours for the 2023 CLE period must be reported no later than 4:45 pm ET on December 15, 2023.

Dues statements will be emailed, not mailed, in 2024, so please keep your email current with the VSB. Sign in to make sure you have also joined the sections and conferences you are interested in!
Pro Bono / Access to Justice
To spread some holiday cheer, we are celebrating the winners of our GetTo30! Pro Bono Challenge drawing. In addition to completing the challenge and being recognized in Virginia Lawyer magazine, these winners receive free access to special bar events in 2024. Congratulations!

  • Sheri Ann Thaxton of Henrico – All-Inclusive Onsite Package to the 2024 VSB Annual Meeting ($700+ value)
  • Julia Christine Phillips of Alexandria – On-Demand Annual Meeting CLE Package ($100 value)
  • Dawnee Henley Tate of Falls Church – VSB Techshow Pass ($50 value) 
  • Emily Elizabeth Sripinyo of Alexandria – Presidents' Lunch: A lunch with VSB President Chidi James and Immediate Past President Stephanie Grana (priceless)

What to give that lawyer who has everything? Fill stockings and the justice gap by donating to a legal services organization in honor of a friend or colleague. Donate to Virginia’s state and local legal service providers on their websites.
VSB Members' Insurance
Give Your Health & Life Insurance a Check-up!
Selected by thousands of VSB lawyers, these VSB Personal Insurance Plans include health, dental, vision, term life, and disability insurance. VSB Members’ Insurance Center (operated by OneDigital) assists with obtaining coverage, questions about plans, and serving as your liaison with insurance companies. Whether for one lawyer or an entire firm, group rates are available through the purchasing power of the VSB. Contact: [email protected] or 804-656-3540, ext 52005.
VSB CLE
Three reasons to register for the 49th Annual Advanced Business Law Conference
December 8 & 9, Friday & Saturday
Live, in-person conference at the Hyatt Regency Reston at Reston Town Square (10.0 CLE, 2 Ethics)
  1. Bank 10 CLE hours for 2024 before the year even begins!
  2. Those CLE & travel costs are tax deductible so add them to your 2023 business deductions.
  3. Start (or finish!) your holiday shopping and enjoy the winter wonderland and dining at the Reston Town Center after your CLE. 🎁
Virginia CLE® in the Netherlands 2024
VSB Real Property Section Releases Second Living Library Video Series
The Real Property Section has completed the second series in the Living Library Project,
with three new videos on real property law.

The videos are intended to assist lawyers who work in property law and to encourage other attorneys to join the ranks of the "dirt lawyers."
Nominate a Colleague!
Know of a leader in the law? Nominations are being sought for the following:


The Section on the Education of Lawyers's William R. Rakes Leadership in Education Award. Deadline: Dec. 1, 2023.
 
Upcoming Events: Save the Date
The annual Criminal Law Seminar will be held on February 2 in Charlottesville and February 9 in Williamsburg.

This year’s Bar Leaders Institute will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. The Hon. Cleo E. Powell will be the keynote speaker.
 
The Diversity Conference will host the 4th Annual Forum on Diversity in the Legal Profession on Friday, March 15, 2024, at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.
 
Registration for the 2024 VSB Techshow opens December 1, 2023.
Virginia Lawyer Magazine and Advertising
IN THE MAIL: The December issue of Virginia Lawyer magazine is sponsored by the Construction Law & Public Contracts Section, with articles on a range of topics thanks to the prolific and talented writers of the VSB. Thank you to everyone who contributed and to our advertisers.

If you would like to promote your services, your accomplishments, or your attorneys, there’s no better place to reach 50,000 lawyers across Virginia and the USA. Contact Dee Norman to discuss advertising, or if you have a topic you’d like to write about.

Looking for a new job? There are many lawyer positions available in our new Classifieds as well as a move-in ready office lease in Warrenton. Right now, we are offering all ads placed in December 2023 free to VSB members as our end of year gift to our favorite lawyers.
Stay connected to the VSB.
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