The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.
Issue link: http://vba.epubxp.com/i/80228
and are not compensated to do it," said Van Buren, who also is an active volun- teer with Norfolk Academy, one of the oldest and most prestigious preparatory schools in the nation, where he is presi- dent of the board. "It's a great lesson in figuring out how to organize and mo- tivate people and to get them working together toward a common goal." Van Buren is one of numerous ex- amples of past YLD chairs who have made important contributions to Vir- ginia and the legal profession. Alison McKee, Andy Miller, Tom Brown, Tomas Farrell and Paul Fraim also cite the YLD in providing the foundation for a fruitful and rewarding career, no matter the path. Alison McKee's col- leagues describe her as one of the brightest and most passionate attorneys they know. Tose traits helped her to rise to partner in her firm and to leadership positions in her many vol- unteer endeavors, which include 30 years of service with alumni organizations at her alma mater, Boston College, working with Te University of Virginia Law School Foundation and volunteer- ing with Norfolk Academy, where her children went to school. McKee began work at the Norfolk office of Hunton & Williams after she graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law. She became a partner in 1993, but after her fourth child was born, McKee took a break from practicing law to de- vote time to her family. "As I think back on my are good people doing good things, people you can trust to do the right thing. It was rewarding to be associated with an organization that helped pro- duce so many top-notch leaders." After graduating from law school Alison McKee at the University of Virginia, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Review, Andy Miller began his legal career at Penn, Stuart & Phillips in Abingdon. In 1969, the year after he led the YLD, he ran for Attorney General – a long shot for a 36-year-old lawyer living in Southwest Virginia – and won, serv- ing for almost two terms. After losing very close races to be the Democratic Party's gubernatorial candidate in 1977 and as its nominee for the U.S. Sen- ate in 1978, Miller moved his practice to Washington, D.C., where he has repre- sented states and corpora- tions in numerous matters of national importance, including Arizona in its effort to attract the super- conducting super-collider, now of Higgs boson fame. Earlier this year, he persuad- ed 24 states to sign a peti- tion for review of the EPA's controversial Utility MACT career, I am most proud of giving my children all the attention they needed while balancing that with staying involved in my profession," she said. McKee returned to practicing law four years ago with Kaufman & Canoles, where she is a commercial lawyer. "Being in the Young Lawyers Divi- sion exposed me to all these people who really have risen to the top of the legal profession in the Commonwealth in many different areas," she said. "Tey Andy Miller Rule in the D.C. Circuit Court of Ap- peals. Apart from his legal career, he is pleased with his role in forming the John Marshall Foundation, created in order to preserve the former Chief Jus- tice's home in Richmond, and with his service as secretary-general of Te So- ciety of the Cincinnati, the nation's oldest patriotic or- ganization founded to hon- or those officers who fought under George Washington for America's independence. "I have always thought of the Association as an outstanding organization to which I have been privileged to belong," said Miller, a Life Member of the VBA. "It teaches each generation of new members why con- tinuing to view the practice of law as a profession is critical to the preservation of our society's values." Just 11 years after serving as YLD chair, Tom Brown became president of YLD Attracts a Remarkable Group of People "I had the chance in the Young Lawyers Section (now Division) to work with and form friendships with what turned out to be a remarkable group of people. By way of example: t Jay Wetsel, Bob Wooldridge and Rodham Delk became some of Virginia's most respected Circuit Court Judges, t Thurston Moore became Chairman of Hunton & Williams, t Don Lemons is now a Justice on the Virginia Supreme Court, t Waugh Crigler is now a highly regarded United States District Court Magistrate Judge, t John Keith became President of the Virginia State Bar, t Whitt Clement became Secretary of Transportation in Virginia, t Chuck Midkiff founded a statewide law firm bearing his name, and t Dennis Belcher gained a national reputation as a lawyer involved with wealth management. I dare say that all YLD chairs can make up equally impressive lists as the Young Lawyers Division of the VBA has always attracted lawyers who have gone on to have very distinguished careers. " – Tom Brown See the full list of YLD chairs at http://vba.org/displaycommon. cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr;=100 and get involved in one or more of the 40-plus activities and projects the division spearheads: http://vba.org/yldactivities FALL 2012 t 33