VBA Journal

WIN 2014

The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.

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WINTER 2014 - 2015 • 5 a bill that was consistent with the weighted caseload study and report of the National Center for State Courts. The VBA also enlisted the legislative support of the business community through the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The NCSC report recommended that Virginia have a total of 429 judges based on caseload and need. At the time that the 2014 session convened, there were only 359 sitting judges in Virginia, and funding was in place for 360 judgeships. The VBA was pleased the budget that came out of the General Assembly in May provided funding for 396 judges – an increase of three dozen judges. While there is more work to be done to bring funding in line with the recommendations of the NCSC report, this increase in the initial budget represented a promising step in the right direction. By initially providing funding for these additional 36 judgeships, the General Assembly recognized the need to remedy this significant problem in our state courts and should be commended for doing so. The VBA and its lobbying team from Reed Smith have played a leading role in advocating for the authorization of additional judges and judicial funding in Virginia. We will continue to play this role going forward because of the paramount importance of the issue at hand. Significantly, our ability to do so is the direct result of our members' support, and I hope that each of our members takes great satisfaction in being part of an organization that can effect major change for the benefit of our profession and the public. The Composition of the VBA – A Big Tent In a year in which VBA membership value has been a point of emphasis, I believe it is important to step back and take note of who we are as an organization. Regrettably, some Virginia lawyers have the perception that the VBA is an organization of predominantly big-firm lawyers. That perception, however, is not reality. As a voluntary bar organization, the VBA clearly needs and greatly appreciates the support of big law firms in Virginia. Yet, the majority of the VBA's members are not big- firm lawyers. Based on the most recent analysis of the VBA's membership data, approximately two-thirds of our members work either in law firms with 14 or fewer lawyers or in in- house legal departments. The VBA's governing body is its Board of Governors. The 2014 Board of Governors consists of 22 board members, including a including a judicial, law school and legislative representative. Of the 20 other board members who practice law, 11 (55 percent) practice with firms of 16 or fewer attorneys or in corporate legal departments. The other nine (45 percent) practice with firms of 37 or more attorneys. These numbers are consistent with the makeup of the Board of Governors since I joined the Board in 2010. Other numbers of interest relate to the age and the geographic diversity of our membership at large. With respect to age, approximately 37 percent of our members are 40 years old or younger, 35 percent are between ages 41 and 60, and 28 percent are age 61 and older. With respect to geography, approximately 32 percent of our members are from the Capitol region, 27 percent from the Potomac region, 15 percent from the Tidewater region, 8 percent from the Southwest region, 8 percent from the Blue Ridge region and 4 percent from the Southside region. While we have work to do in terms of increasing our members in certain geographical areas in the Commonwealth, we enjoy a nice amount of geographic balance among the most populated regions. *** Because this column is my last for the bar year, I want to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Executive Director, Yvonne McGhee, and the entire VBA staff for their exemplary work this year. For such a small staff to plan and to execute so many high quality events and conferences during the year is truly amazing. I also want to thank the Board of Governors for its superb governance and guidance throughout the year. The VBA will prosper under Pete Johnson's leadership next year. Finally, I want to thank my colleagues at Williams Mullen for their strong support of my bar leadership role. During the year, I celebrated my 25th work anniversary with the firm, and I am fortunate that it has been my workplace home for so many years. ■ John L. Walker III is a partner at Williams Mullen in Richmond, where his practice focuses on business litigation. A VBA member since 1989, he has served as Chair of the YLD, Chair of the VBA Board of Governors and as President-elect of the organization. " The VBA and its lobbying team from Reed Smith have played a leading role in advocating for the authorization of additional judges and judicial funding in Virginia.

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