Governance
Most lawyers are in phase 1c of the COVID vaccine schedule. Resources on scheduling your vaccine here.

The Supreme Court of Virginia approved LEO 1850 regarding ethical issues when a lawyer considers outsourcing legal or non-legal support services, and amended other rules.
 
The Court also approved LEO 1890 concerning communication with represented persons, and amended Rule 4.2, Comment [7].
 
The Court has declared its 16th Judicial Emergency due to COVID, extended until February 14.

Virginia State Bar President Brian L. Buniva issued a statement regarding the events of January 6.

The Fourth Circuit seeks comments on a slight increase in the attorney admission fee.
 
For the third time since the pandemic, new Virginia lawyers were sworn in during a virtual A&O Ceremony.

We need YOU to be a leader in the Bar in 2021. The VSB has many opportunities for lawyers wishing to volunteer as a Bar leader, including being on Bar Council. Please consider being a part of regulating and improving your profession.

Do you know anything about medical malpractice? The Supreme Court of Virginia is seeking lawyers willing to serve on Med Mal Review Panels.
In honor of Black History Month, we recognize Lavinia Marian Fleming Poe of Newport News, the first African American woman licensed to practice law in Virginia. Born in 1890, Poe was married and a mother of two when she decided to attend law school. She passed the Virginia bar exam in 1925, the same year she graduated from Howard University School of Law. She was a founding member of the Old Dominion Bar Association and helped organize the Newport News branch of the NAACP in 1933. Poe worked in private practice until the 1960s, often representing those who could not afford counsel.
Discipline
Kurt Joseph Pomrenke, license revoked, effective December 28, 2020.
James Stephen Del Sordo, license revoked, effective January 22, 2021.
Ernest Paul Francis, license revoked, effective March 23, 2021.
George Ed Barker Jr., license suspended, effective January 20, 2021.
Timothy John Murphy, license suspended, effective January 28, 2021.
Jonathon Preston Fisher, license suspended, effective February 1, 2021.
Paul Joseph Bohnet, public reprimand, effective January 12, 2021.
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 [email protected]
Pro Bono / Access to Justice
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 [email protected] to discuss ways to get involved.
In the mail 📬: The February Virginia Lawyer, sponsored by the Health Law Section, covers many of the COVID-related legal issues faced by lawyers, and features the Office of the Attorney General's legal pandemic team.

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 ad rates for 2021, and our ad creation program for full page advertisers.
Opportunities and CLEs
Register now for the 51st Annual Criminal Law Seminar live webcast on February 12. This seminar provides 7.0 (2.0 ethics) hours CLE.

You don't have to be a bar leader to attend the Bar Leaders Institute on March 24, just interested in serving in a leadership role in a bar someday. Read more about this worthwhile event here. And then register for the virtual event here.
Registration is now open for the 2021 VSB Techshow: Completely virtual on April 26, this year’s programs offer up to 7 hours of live CLE that day. Registrants may also watch additional sessions after the event for up to 5 on-demand CLE hours. A year's worth of CLEs for only $50!
Come learn what our burgeoning reliance on technology means to you and the practice of law.

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 [email protected].

Looking for a job, office space, or an expert witness? Check out the VSB Classifieds today. Job postings for full-time lawyer positions are free.

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

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