The Diversity Mentorship Program is a dedicated initiative offered by VTLA to foster the professional growth and development of young attorneys from diverse backgrounds. This program, developed under the care of VTLA's Diversity and Inclusion Alliance, pairs such aspiring young legal professionals with experienced mentors, who may come from diverse backgrounds or not, but all share a commitment to the next generation of legal practitioners. 

The Diversity Mentorship Program is more than just a program; it’s an investment into your future success as a legal professional. Together we can shape a legal community that values diversity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of excellence. Click here for information on becoming a mentor or seeking a mentor. 

• Churchill G. Bowles
• Matthew Scott Branham*
• Amy Casciano*
• Maxfield Daley-Watson
• Stephen George Donches, II
• Magdalene Eallonardo
• Kimberly Sloan Lambert
• Patricia McGurr*
• Laraib Mehmood*
• Bruce H. Russell, II
• Ryann S. Washington*

* Paralegal member

Showing your client's injuries can make or break a case. Do you really want to leave your client in the “hands” of something like artifical intelligence? At MediVisuals, their award winning team will get to know your client’s injuries and will help you weave your client’s story - whether for settlement or trial - effectively and efficiently.

MediVisuals is the nation’s largest and most experienced medical demonstrative evidence provider based right here in Virginia! They provide high-quality medical legal illustrations and animations with services like Interactive Timelines, 3D Reconstruction Videos of Client CT Data, Stock Medical Illustrations and Animations, Life-Size Soft Brain Models and 3D Printing, and more.

Join MediVisuals for our free Practice Chat on Thursday, March 21, at 2 pm. Sign up here.

VTLA President Vaden Warren started out this year with the goal of listening to members in small firms. He met with several new friends in Roanoke, in Fredericksburg and most recently in Harrisonburg. We have heard how increased jurisdiction in general district courts has helped get justice served more efficiently, we have heard the challenges in getting liens settled in Medicaid cases, we have heard the challenges of hiring attorneys and staff, and much more. Many ideas are percolating and efforts to resolve the issues are under way. (Watch our upcoming Legislative Update for a liens update!)

Thanks to members who we’ve heard from so far - if you're interested in a get together, we're certain Vaden and/or incoming President Joanna Suyes will make every effort to join you - just let Valerie at VTLA know!

Our Young Trial Lawyers spoke to students at University of Richmond Law last month, sharing their experiences as attorneys, providing insight on what it’s like to work in different practice areas including family, criminal defense, civil rights, appellate, and personal injury. After a lively and illuminating panel with discussions on navigating new career paths, maintaining work-life balance, learning lessons from successes and failures, and more, our panelists and student attendees enjoyed refreshments and chatted further at our networking reception, sponsored by Halperin Law Center and Cantor Grana Buckner and Bucci. Check out more photos here.

If you are a YTL section member and would like to get involved in a future panel, please reach out to Sayeema at shoque@vtla.com.

So, you've got a number - can you close your case? Most likely you are looking at a long complicated process of clearing any variety of liens. VTLA can help!

In this seminar, from ERISA to Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare to workers' compensation, we've got you covered. This one-day program takes a look at these and other types of liens. 

• Secure maximum recovery for your clients.
• Advise clients of potential reimbursement obligations from the beginning of their case.
• Close each case with the knowledge of having met your ethical requirements while properly disbursing funds.

This seminar provides you not only with the knowledge to navigate the latest developments in lien resolution but also provides an update to the 3rd edition of Liens in Personal Injury Actions. Register here.

Looking for a liens primer to get you started? Check out our webinar with Mark Dix from last week: Click here.

Get a better fundamental understanding of the liens that can potentially derail available recovery in personal injury cases - this is a great event to attend prior to our Liens seminar in May. VTLA’s legislative counsel Mark Dix will present a primer on liens, including an update on HB315 concerning Medicaid liens through DMAS. Bring your questions! Then take the next step and sign up for Lien on Me on May 22. 

1 hour MCLE pending. Free to any VTLA member. Register here.

April 26 & 27, Richmond

Join us for an in-depth program, specially created for the more experienced paralegal or legal assistant working on personal injury cases. Topics will cover ERISA, trucking cases, understanding medical records, neck and back anatomy, premises liability and much more! 

As a paralegal, you perform multiple tasks every day, while dealing directly with attorneys and injured clients who may have complex, sometimes tragic, cases. It can be overwhelming at times. This retreat is designed to help you with those challenges in a relaxed, informal setting, showing you that you will survive the tough times. After all, you're not alone. The knowledge gained and the connections made will more than cover the costs of attending!

 Register here.

Happy New Year! Yep – you read that right – another VTLA season gets underway in April and we’d love to have you as part of our work. Incoming President Melissa Ray is finalizing our committee chairs and those chairs will be constituting their committees for the 2026-2027 year. Take a look at our committees, see what might interest you and let us know. 

Check out this year’s committees HERE and join the important work of your Association!

As the seasons change from winter to spring, so do the VTLA “seasons” from the legislature to the convention.

For the past 60 days, your Virginia legislature has been tackling issues from the ideological to the technical. As of last weekend, they have gone home, to return April 17 for what's affectionately referred to as the veto session. In the meantime, the Governor and his staff will be reviewing all the legislation passed by the House and Senate, including a number of bills important to you and your clients. Watch for a full recap of the session in our Legislative Update next week.

So now we move into Convention Season! There's still time to register of course. Renewal starts on April 3 and is special mix of new and traditional aspects but mostly, you will leave renewed in mind and spirit. Check out all things convention here!