In a long-standing tradition, Virginia Trial Lawyers Foundation presented our Trial Advocacy Award to a graduating student at each Virginia law school. The recipient, who is chosen by the school’s Dean and faculty, best exemplifies the attributes of an effective trial advocate, is dedicated to preserving the rights of individuals, and exhibits excellence in trial skills. 

The 2021 class includes:

• Appalachian School of Law: Shannon Adams
• George Mason University School of Law: John Mark Mastakas
• Liberty University School of Law: Desmond Rice   
• Regent University School of Law: Kyle C. Zimmermann
• University of Richmond School of Law: Dana Jean Rafferty
• University of Virginia School of Law: Anna Cox
• Washington and Lee University School of Law: Haley Christina Doss Santos

Congratulations! 

Did you miss some of the convention presentations? If you were registered, you can view a recording of nearly every presentation now through our convention app! Just click through the agenda into each session to view the presentations.

Also, don’t forget to watch our extra educational videos available in the Video Library – great videos from Jason Konvicka & Lauren Ellerman are posted. All videos will be available until we prepare for 2022.

Just a reminder: these videos are not approved for CLE credit through this format; this is just to supplement your convention experience.

On Tuesday, we held a great May Tort CLE about “Protecting Your Client’s Recovery.” Watch for recorded portions to be available soon! Pictured above is a great panel that discussed settlement options for clients to protect their recovery. Pictured L-R: Henry Strong, JMW Settlements; Anthony Prieto, Synergy Settlement Services; Karen Konvicka, Commonwealth Community Trust; Stephanie Grana, Breit Cantor Grana Buckner; Chidi James, Blankingship & Keith; and Gary Blankenship, Atlantic Settlements.

Most of this year’s committees and sections are already assembled and doing lots of good work. This month, we’re giving a huge shoutout to the 17 members of our Judicial Relations Committee who, so far in 2021, have already evaluated more than 100 individuals for judicial vacancies in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, U.S. District Court and the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Thank you for your extraordinary efforts!

It’s hard to believe the 2021 VTLA Convention is already behind us – it came and went faster than we could say Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! For the second year in a row, VTLA history was made - in 2020 we held our first all virtual convention, and this year, we held our first  “hybrid” convention with several hundred in person and more than several hundred more online. We were blown away by the turnout and proud to lead the country again in outstanding programming.

Our 2021 Convention Chair Brody Reid and the Convention Committee did an exceptional job organizing this year’s historic gathering and the name of the game was “flexible” throughout the planning process. As usual, the lineup of speakers and topics were stellar.

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Newest Williamsburg donor:
Erin Jewell, Patten Wornom Hatten & Diamonstein, Newport News
 
Other new donors:
Steve Garver
Justin Curcio
Berkley D. Foltz
Gregory T. O’Halloran
Avery Adcock
 
View all of our donors here. 

Click here to add your name to this list!

For more than a year, qualified immunity has made headlines in calls for criminal justice reform. In Virginia, sovereign immunity adds another wrinkle. Virginia experts on these issues will walk attendees through these timely topics in an open webinar on May 25th. Learn the difference in these two concepts, how they apply to police misconduct cases and more.

May 25, 2021  •  Noon-2 pm
Virtual program with live presentations, Q&A

Speakers include Isaac McBeth, Halperin Law Center, Glen Allen; Seth Carroll, Commonwealth Law Group, Richmond; Danny Zemel, The Krudys Law Firm, Richmond; Professor Jack Preis, University of Richmond School of Law; Andrew Lucchetti, Halperin Law Center; and Mark Dix, VTLA Legislative Counsel.

REGISTER HERE!