The VLW Blog

Judges, including Chief Justice Cynthia Kinser, substituted for celebrities on Friday in the version of Hollywood Squares that the Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar dubbed Judiciary Squares. The judges were given evidence-related questions and contestants – and the audience – had to decide whether the judge had given the correct answer. The [...]

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The Virginia State Bar has promoted Kathryn  Montgomery to the No. 2 position in its system for regulating lawyers suspected of violating legal ethics. Montgomery succeeds Harry Hirsch, who retired last month after 27 years with the agency, as deputy bar counsel. A native of Danville and a graduate of the University of Virginia and [...]

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Sharon D. Nelson, a Fairfax lawyer and president of a computer forensics and information security company, wants to be president of the Virginia State Bar in 2013-14. Nelson is a member of the VSB Council and its executive committee, and she said current and past officers of the agency have encouraged her to seek the [...]

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A three-judge panel has revoked the license of Norfolk lawyer Mark Kantro for concealing $161,000 in income from his wife during their divorce. Kantro’s attorney, Allan Zaleski, told The Virginian-Pilot that the discipline is unusual because it is based on a personal divorce rather than on misconduct involving a client. Zaleski said he plans to [...]

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Virginia lawyers will be able to renew their bar licenses online in June. It’s the first time the Virginia State Bar has offered “e-renewal,” but it may not be a boon for all attorneys. The web-based renewal form will allow only one lawyer at a time to check the boxes and pay dues by credit [...]

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A free telephone CLE seminar will be presented at noon Thursday for attorneys wanting to provide pro bono services for those affected by tornadoes recently in Pulaski, Gloucester and Mathews counties, among other localities. Those attending the seminar will be asked to volunteer for the emergency legal services disaster program coordinated by the Young Lawyers [...]

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The Supreme Court of Virginia has accepted a proposal by a joint task force of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association that will make it easier for corporate counsel who are not licensed in Virginia to provide pro bono services. Corporate counsel now can provide such services only in programs operated and [...]

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The House of Delegates made quick work of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s veto of legislation that would raise the state’s cap on medical malpractice awards from $2 million to $3 million over 20 years. After barely 10 minutes of discussion, the House overrode the veto this afternoon on a 93-7 vote, even more one-sided than the [...]

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If a $10 dues reduction sounded good, how about $25? The Virginia State Bar Executive Committee has adopted a 2011-12 budget that would reduce annual dues from $250 annually to $225, plus the $25 assessment for the Clients’ Protection Fund. The agency’s budget and finance committee recommended a $10 decrease last month along with a [...]

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The General Assembly recessed tonight until April 4 after approving a budget that includes money to fill 21 judgeships that the legislature froze in its 2010 session. The legislature also rejected the proposal of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell that it take $5 million from the reserve fund of the Virginia State Bar and agreed to [...]

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