Two VTLA firms have taken advantage of hiring VTLF scholarship winners as interns this summer. Because our applicant pool was so strong this year, we offered three instead of two! We have another candidate to place and her preference is in Northern Virginia - Vanessa Ogbeide. Vanessa is currently completing her second year at Washington & Lee School of Law.  Her previous work experience includes an internship with Judge C. Kailani, US District Court, Western District Court of Virginia as well as a Legal Assistant for Attorney Phillips Murrah and with the Bask Law Firm.  While at Washington and Lee, she has been a staff writer for the Law Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice.  For more details, please contact Lori O’Toole, lotoole@vtla.com, (804) 343-1143 ext. 312, as soon as possible.

Last month, members braved the bitter cold and joined VTLA leadership and staff for our annual lobby day. A special thank you to Delegate Marcus Simon who started the day. As you can see from the pictures, the folks who attended in person got a first-hand look at the inner workings of the General Assembly and met with various legislators. More photos here.

This convention is a focused look forward while still honoring the things we have loved in the past (case law update, legislative update, shrimp at the Allen Party). There’s AI that will make you more relevant as you grow. There’s a quick introduction to flock technology. There’s how to leverage social media for your practice. There’s open discussion on secondary trauma and wellness for you. There’s even an opportunity to train for handling pro bono cases to feed your heart and your responsibilities. The speakers are a “who’s who” nationally and statewide.

Wow! And nearly 50 exhibitors to share their expertise with you. 

Join us at the newly renovated Homestead and you (and your practice) will be glad you did.

Register with VTLA here. Reserve at the Homestead, here.

Congratulations to the VTLA members in the 2024 class of “Influential Women of Law,” and the “Circle of Excellence” honorees presented by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. This program honors women who have improved the legal profession in the Commonwealth. The honorees will be celebrated at an event on Feb. 20 at the John Marshall Ballroom in Richmond.

• Allison W. Anders, Chaing Anders
• Ariel L. Baniowski, Livesay & Myers
• Julie M. Cillo, Owen & Owens
• Brielle Hunt, Phelan Petty
• Carolé C. Krogmann, Masterman Krogmann
• Mona Raza, Legal Aid Society of the Roanoke Valley 
• Maria Simon, The Geller Law Group
• Jacqueline C. Smith, Prince William County Circuit Court
• Elyse H. Stiner, Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen

2025 Circle of Excellence honoree

• Elizabeth Guilbert Perrow, Woods Rogers

Make a difference with VTLA’s Pledge 2 campaign! Pledge just 2% of your professional time, in accordance with Rule 6.1 of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, to providing pro bono legal services. It’s a small commitment that can create a big impact for those in need of legal services in our communities.

We’re making it easy for you with a dedicated page on our website with resources to help you find pro bono opportunities, access training, or donate money in lieu of time. Sign the pledge today. Just as important, tell us what you’re doing! Donating, writing wills, freelegalanswers - we want to hear it all! Contact Hannah Brechlin at VTLA or our Pro Bono Chair Chad Mooney with questions.

Every fall, we launch a member-get-a-member campaign to encourage you to bring a friend to join VTLA. Thanks to all of this year’s recruiters and congratulations to the following members who won a prize: 

• Peter Anderson, Rawls Law Group - Complimentary Convention Registration
• Brian Jones, Barnes & Diehl PC - Wusthoff Knife
• Kristie Kubik, Cannella & O'Neal - $200 Amazon Card
• Scott Perry, Breit Biniazan - Hydro Flask
• Eric Schloss, Staltzberg & Schloss - Virginia Evidence for the Trial Lawyer
• Morgan Whitlock, Whitlock Law LLC - $200 VISA Card

VTLA Board members packed our helmet with cash in December to buy helmets as part of our ongoing public service project. Thanks to the financial support of VTLA members for over a decade, thousands of low-income students across Virginia have been given much needed helmets, and learned the importance of wearing one from police, medical personnel and others.

Become a helmet hero and donate to this program - it's quick and easy to make a give and every dollar helps. (We buy helmets at cost directly through Bell.)  Please give here.

Always wanted to hire another pair of hands in the summer?

The Virginia Trial Lawyers Foundation (VTLF) has your answer. Through our Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship program, VTLF has selected a few outstanding candidates interested in trial law looking for a summer internship opportunity. They also receive a scholarship from our Foundation.

We need your help in developing new members of the trial lawyer family. Consider hiring one of our winners for 10 weeks this summer. For more details, please contact Lori O’Toole, lotoole@vtla.com, (804) 343-1143 ext. 312, as soon as possible.

• Davina Anderson
• R. Baker
• Joshua Barbosa
• Erin Denmark*
• Jacob DeRue
• Karlina Dudley
• Chavioleyette Fenelus
• Maxwell Goldkuhle*
• Hassan Kingsberry
• Kathryn Larkin*
• Claudia Leonor
• Joseph Marino
• Douglas Marshall
• Makan Mashhour
• Ashtyn McDaniel
• Cesar Muir
• Donovan Newkirk
• Arielle Paisley
• Michael Pruitt
• Sydney Remaily
• Joseph Rigney
• Madeleine Robinson
• Mark Rosenow
• Alexandra Roskowinski
• Robinson Rowe
• Abigail Scanga Blackburn
• Jamie Shaw
• Christopher Smith
• Noah Trombly
• Dorothy Vetterl
• Latosha Watts*
• Heidi Wolff-Stanton
• Laura Youngquist

* Paralegal member

VTLA 2025 Convention
March 19-22  •  The Homestead

Practical uses of AI. What to do with confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses. Empowering juries to give justice. Identifying and addressing secondary trauma. Flock technology (what?). Tortious interference with parental rights. This is not even close to half of the information you'll get at the VTLA Annual Convention!

Register with VTLA here. Reserve your room here. 

Watch for details coming soon with a complete agenda, a lineup packed with outstanding national and state speakers, a group of exciting exhibitors, social events and more.

Oh! And please consider being a sponsor
Conventions only happen with the amazing additional financial support of member firms and friends. You and your firm can be a sponsor, giving you visibility at a level you choose. Check the options here to learn more.