VTLA is kicking off 2024 with new and upgraded Business Partners to help you in your practice.

First, thank you to Gary Blankenship from Atlantic Settlements for upgrading to Platinum as he continues to offer outstanding settlement services to our members.

Welcome to Healing Chiropractic & Rehab Center and Payday to the Silver level and CGI Digital and DMX Imaging to the Bronze level. 

We’ve also had a few names changes in our existing partners: Multi-Specialty Health Care is now Excelsia Injury Care, SBA Loan Group is now SBA Funding, and Abacus Advisors is now Forge for Business.

Please check our website to learn more about these businesses and the rest of our partners who support VTLA and are eager to work with you!

January 23 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Park Lane Tavern of Fredericksburg

Join us for our first social event of 2024! The social is open to any paralegal or law office support staff. Come and meet your colleagues - see old friends and make new ones. This free event includes light appetizers, beer or wine and is kindly sponsored by MoveDocs. Let us know you're coming! Learn more about paralegal membership and upcoming events here.

January 31   •  3 – 4:15 pm

Railroad injury cases have unusual features requiring specialized knowledge. This program provides an overview of the types of railroad industry accident claims and how to handle them. The focus will be on injuries to rail workers, which are covered by the Federal Employers Liability Act (“FELA”), 45 U.S.C. §§ 51-60. Rail workers do not get workers compensation and can sue their employer for negligence. 

You will learn the basics of FELA, how to distinguish different types of railroad injury cases and industry-specific case considerations. The speakers will also discuss injuries to railroad passengers on Amtrak and commuter rail.  This program will arm you with knowledge of the key issues to look for when you get a call from someone injured in a railroad context. Register 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. 27 at the John Marshall Ballroom in Richmond.

• Lisa Brook, Tucker Griffin Barnes
• Carolyn M. Grimes, Wade, Grimes, Friedman, Meinken & Leischner
• Macel Hubbard Janoschka, First Truth Law
• Michele Lewane, Injured Workers Law Firm
• Melissa W. Robinson, Glenn Robinson Cathey Skaff & White
• Chandra Sheppard, The Geller Law Group

2024 Circle of Excellence honorees

• Stephanie E. Grana, Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci
• Monica Taylor Monday, Gentry Locke

Laura Dove - Convention registration  -  Robert Brandt - Amazon gift card  -  Barkley Horn - Airpods  -  Michele Bartoli Cain - Target gift card  -  Mark T. Hurt - Visa gift card  -  Parker Allen - Day Escape Cooler backpack

Watch for separate emails from the VTLA Legislative Team for updates during the session (which just began this week). You can also track what’s happening in Richmond on our website to follow the actions in your practice area.

• Samantha Bass
• Emily Brooks*
• Madalyn Brooks
• Gregory Capps II
• Courtney Zyeda Cole
• Sandra Craine-Gonzalez
• Summer Crump
• Juliet Edwards
• Kristin Fischer*
• Elizabeth Foster
• Elizabeth Garnett*
• LaVonda Graham-Williams
• Thomas Hall
• Thompson Hangen
• Henry Hibbert
• Jeremiah Johansen
• Kristin Johnson*
• Kyle Jourden
• Thomas Lane
• Chandler Lawhorn
• Thomas McGuire Sr.
• Christopher Marotta*
• Carlyn Mikalson*
• Andrew Murphy
• Mckeesha Robinson
• Alexandre Rowan
• Andrew Scalzo
• Faiz Shaheen
• John Sullivan
• Seneca Tsang
• Jamie Wilson*
• Connor Yi
• Annette Yospe

* Paralegal member

The process for seeking judicial candidates for the upcoming vacancy(ies) in the Court of Appeals for Virginia, has been extended to December 20. If you, or someone you know, is interested in being considered, please reach out to the Virginia State Bar immediately (committees@vsb.org), seek recommendations of other bars such as VTLA, and let the General Assembly members know of your interest at sheard@dls.virginia.gov. If you need any additional information, please reach out to Valerie O'Brien at VTLA.

• Kiara Rubbi Amezquita*
• Kayla C. Brown
• Sandra Brown*
• Chantelle Burgess*
• Julie H. Carter*
• Stella Darden*
• Erin K. DeBoer
• Ashlee Ferebee
• Nan Marguerite Forbes
• David S. Galeski
• Alyssa Megan Grzesiak
• Adam Stewart Hare
• Adam Hawks
• Matthew R. Hayes*
• Shajuan Mason House
• Thomas Fielding Hurt*
• Tracy Jenkins*
• Melissa Kelly*
• Adolfo Daniel Lopez
• Cayla Petrie*
• Marie Piazza*
• Heather Randall*
• Mona Raza
• Madison Roberts
• Sarah Rodriguez*
• Sara Scott*
• Kara Shull*
• Maria C. Simon
• Andrea Torres*
• Brian Warren
• Markita Williams*
•  
• * Paralegal

Did you miss the Standing Room Only seminar last month? Materials from the seminar are available here.

How about any of the webinars from 2023? Catch up on any of the programs here:

Knowing Your Role - How Best to Prepare Your Attorney for Court

Professionalism In and Out of the Firm

Setting Client Expectations and Boundaries

VJLAP services that can help you!