It’s that time of year!
We have our sights set on 2026 - all we need is you. Renew now online and you’ll receive a few less emails and mail in the coming weeks. 

Shout out to Gary Kendall in Free Union for being our first member to renew this year! “No organization does more to protect the rights of the citizens in Virginia,” Gary said. “I can’t imagine what the law in Virginia would look like if VTLA wasn’t there.” 

Join Gary and renew today! It’s quick and easy. If you have any questions, give us a call.

Reduce stress, control anxious thoughts, focus attention and experience more emotional balance through the evidence-based practice of mindfulness. VTLA presents two upcoming opportunities to help our members take these steps.

First, beginning Monday October 20 from 6-7:30 pm, our own VTLA member Aubrey Ford will facilitate a three-week course at The Innerwork Center in Richmond's museum district. This three-part program introduces mindfulness practices in a simple and clear progression. For more information and to register, click here.

On January 8th at 4:30 pm, VTLA’s Women’s Caucus will cosponsor a wellness webinar: Taking Care of Yourself So You May Continue to Care for Others. This session will be facilitated by Robin Albertson-Wren, and cosponsored also by the Richmond Bar Association and Greater Richmond Women’s Bar Association. This webinar will be open to all members so watch for more details coming later this year.

VTLA’s Mentorship Program through our Diversity and Inclusion Alliance builds bridges across generations, backgrounds, and practice areas, creating space for connection and growth throughout our diverse membership. We’re looking for both mentors and mentees to help bring new energy to this important initiative.

If you’d like to share your experience or gain guidance as you grow in practice, we’d love to have you join. Sign up here.

Have you received an invitation to a VTLA reception? Or lunch? Or gathering? Our District Governors are reaching out to the members in their districts just to connect. There’s no trick. No fundraising ask. Just time to connect with each other and VTLA. What can we do to help you help your clients? Have you thought, there oughtta be a law! Let us know and we can research that - or better yet, bring your idea to fix something. We really just want you to know what we do so you can turn to us, and listen to you so we can be better for you.

• In Northern Virginia/Fairfax area, David Marks and Amy Bradley hosted members on August 20th, with the help of The McCammon Group, at Draper’s.
• In Richmond and surrounding areas, Joseph Cantor, Mike Phelan and Brenda Page hosted members on September 10 at Bingo Beer.
• In Roanoke, Dan Crandall pulled out all the stops on September 11 and welcomed members, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Ballou and Circuit Court Judge David Carson for a reception at the Taubman Museum of Art.

Plans are under way in Harrisonburg on October 9 and Hampton on October 21. Hope to see you there (or there or somewhere soon)!

If you missed your local event (or haven’t heard about yours yet), please reach out if you need anything from VTLA. We always love hearing from you! 

VTLA was all over our Commonwealth this past month! Members gathered at 3 local receptions sponsored and hosted by our District Governors. Board members thanked our Business Partners at a first-ever reception in Richmond. Regent Law School grads presented to current students about life as a trial lawyer. And of course, we held several education programs that pulled attendees from all over. Where will we see you?

Prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, judges from all courts, and various others interested in Virginia's criminal justice system, gathered last week to discuss topics to improve the system at the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference. The issues might seem small, but their impact can certainly be big to an individual. In the 2025 General Assembly, three VCJC proposed bills were signed into law. This year, the Conference is recommending two issues.

Thank you to outgoing chairs Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney Joe Platania and VTLA member Seth Weston. The next two conferences will be chaired by Prince Edward County Commonwealth Attorney Megan Clark and Andrea Moseley.

Pictured above at the Conference: Roanoke General District Court Judge Jacqueline F. Ward Talevi, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission Executive Director Maria Jankowski, Virginia Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Lorish, and VTLA member Ed Riley.

Have you started using the Third Party Liability portal for your Medicaid liens yet? Are you unsure about starting that process? VTLA members can watch (or re-watch) the DMAS training webinar done late this summer to give you a good start. Simply click here.

The online tool automates the submission of required case materials related to Casualty Recovery and the Lien Determination process (42 CFR 433.36) in the Medicaid space while also streamlining the user experience for outside stakeholders. The tool provides a one-stop shop for law firms, insurance companies, and other partners to request a lien from DMAS for their Medicaid clients.

The TPL Portal can be accessed here. 

To register a user for the portal, navigate to the portal home page linked above and click on "Submit a Firm/Agency Request." The registration page will ask for your firm information, as well as the name and email address of the initial user. Complete the captcha and submit the registration request.

Once approved by DMAS, the user will receive email confirmation with instructions to log in. A password reset is required at that time. Once approved, registered users can begin submitting lien determination requests and can receive a lien within 60 days. (Refer to § 8.01-66.9:2 for additional details on current lien determination timelines and responsibilities.) Follow DMAS on social media for continuing updates.

For the first time, VTLA is holding a seminar on handling sexual assault cases in the civil arena. Our program on October 7, in Richmond or virtually, is titled Empowering Survivors, but rest assured these speakers will empower you first. Hear about the recent vicarious liability legislation adopted, case intake and selection, presenting the case, how the civil case weaves in the criminal case, cases against child care centers, and so much more. The speakers are simply Virginia’s best. Click here for more details and here to register.

Insurance Update: Coverage for the Modern Era
Insure your success with this seminar designed to keep you up-to-date on the evolving trends reshaping auto insurance in litigation with UIM stacking, bad faith, tender and walk, and a “live listserve” with the panel answering your questions. This program, from 10 am - 3 pm on October 16 will be held in Richmond or virtually. Register here.

Free ethics program
as we have done the past several years, VTLA and VADA in conjunction are sponsoring a free ethics webinar on October 29. Join VTLA member Chad Mooney and VADA member Johneal White as they discuss value-based billing and client transparency, AI ethics, social media ethics, and making statement in the media - both traditional and social - about cases and the judiciary. Register here.

September 25 - Reston or Virtual

Emerging and complex issues in equitable distribution will take the stage in our annual Family Law Seminar. We’ll take a look at high-stakes issues such as identifying and valuing cryptocurrency, untangling complex investment portfolios, and applying effective classification and tracing techniques to marital and separate property.

Of course we’ll also discuss how AI is reshaping legal practice, get the latest updates on the legal status of embryo division, and gain valuable practical insights from a panel of Circuit Court judges. Register here today.

Since we last “talked” in August, VTLA’s education team has certainly been in back-to-school mode.

We brought back several programs that haven’t been in our rotation for a number of years: premises liability was held in August and medical malpractice was held just this past weekend. On top of those, the New Trial Lawyers wrapped up their series of programs with an in-person program that rolled right into a band and fun as part of Richmond’s First Fridays programming.

Click on each seminar title to catch a few pictures of the events. If you are interested in watching the premises event (with no CLE credit), let us know and you can purchase that. 

Check out our article above on October’s events!