The VLW Blog

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 89-7 [...]

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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 5 percent [...]

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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 provide [...]

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The Virginia State Bar wants to know what you think about the fitness of Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico, to practice law.
Morrissey has petitioned the VSB to restore his license, which was revoked in April 2003, and a hearing on the request is set for April 22. The state bar is asking for written comments or [...]

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Proponents of reinstating mandatory IOLTA as a tool to raise money for legal aid appear to have stumbled at the first step.
The Supreme Court of Virginia approved mandatory IOLTA, the acronym for Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts, on a 4-3 vote in 1993, much to the consternation of state bankers.
Two years later, the bankers prevailed [...]

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Add the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys to the list of organizations opposing Gov. McDonnell’s proposal to take $5 million from the State Bar Fund for the state budget.
In a statement sent Thursday to members of the General Assembly money committees, the VADA said the money at stake comes entirely from dues, fees and penalties [...]

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The 2,145-member Fairfax Bar Association has chimed in with the pleas for filling Virginia judicial vacancies.
An FBA resolution this week urges General Assembly members to fully fund all vacant judgeships and to reject the governor’s plan to use $5 million from the State Bar Fund for general spending purposes.
Unfilled judgeships “are creating undue hardships that [...]

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The Virginia State Bar website now has a third button to click to check on the status of an attorney – “Attorneys Not in Good Standing.”
That button supplements buttons for “Attorneys Without Malpractice Insurance” and “Disciplined Attorneys.”
In most instances the new button duplicates the information available by clicking the “Disciplined Attorneys” button, but an [...]

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The Virginia State Bar Council will have more of a say over the regulations governing mandatory continuing legal education according to a rule change adopted by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Under the changes, the council could reject amendments or regulations from the MCLE Board by a two-thirds vote of council.
Moreover, any regulations would have to [...]

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Del. David Albo, R-Fairfax County, says the Virginia State Bar overstepped its mission in lobbying the legislature for more judicial spending.
Albo, chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee, views the plan by Gov. Bob McDonnell to use the VSB’s $5-million cash reserves for general spending as a rebuff to the VSB’s advocacy for restoring [...]

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