The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.
Issue link: http://vba.epubxp.com/i/80228
Some of the best people I have known throughout my career are people I met through the Young Lawyers Division. We inspired each other and formed friendships and a level of collegiality that has made the practice of law a lot more enjoyable. the VBA. Tis is only one achievement of the long list of honors and accomplish- ments Brown has accumu- lated. He has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America for both corporate and health care law for more than 20 years and is a past president of the Virginia Law Foundation. He serves on the Board of Visitors for Davidson College, where he completed his bachelor's de- gree before attending the University of Virginia School of Law. Now with Mc- GuireWoods in McLean, Brown traces his achievements to his time with the YLD. He said a review of the people who have been involved with the divi- sion through the years is a testament to the quality of the organization. "It was meaningful for me to form friendships with people all over the state that really have lasted a lifetime," he said. "Tere is a cliché that law prac- tice is a marathon and not a sprint. Had I not gotten involved with the Young Lawyers Division, that would have been a harder race to run." Tomas Farrell's success as YLD chair foreshadowed his numerous achievements as a litigator and his abil- ity to transfer his talents to a career as an outstanding businessman. Farrell, who earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia, be- came a partner in the Fair- fax firm of Boothe, Prichard & Dudley in 1986. After representing Dominion Resources in a dispute in 1994, Farrell was offered the position of general counsel for the Richmond- Tom Brown based energy company in 1994. He rose quickly to his current position as Dominion's chairman, president and chief execu- tive officer. Farrell became active in the VBA on the same day he was sworn in to the Virginia State Bar. As president of the YLD, he also served on the VBA Executive Committee – his first opportunity to experi- ence how a board works to- gether to make decisions and set policy. He said this introduction to group dynamics and leader- ship laid the foundation for his leadership at Dominion. "A law degree and prac- ticing law are great prepa- ration for any line of work because of the mental disci- pline they require," he said. "My experiences with Te Virginia Bar Association trained me to do my current job." Colleagues describe Paul Thomas Farrell Fraim, mayor of Norfolk for 18 years, as a selfless leader and one of Virginia's most effective mayors. He is the longest- serving mayor in the his- tory of the city. In addi- tion to being a partner in the Norfolk firm of Fraim & Fiorella, Fraim has a long career in local poli- tics, which began when he was elected to the Norfolk City Council in 1986. He is president of the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Military Institute, his alma mater, and a member of the Board of Directors of TowneBank. Fraim was in- strumental in efforts to build a consoli- dated courthouse in Norfolk and has served on statewide boards and com- missions for three governors. "I was deeply impacted by my experience in the Young Lawyers [Division]," said Fraim, who joined after earning his law degree from the University of Richmond. "It led me to want to be more involved in my community. Tat commitment has stayed with me through my 26 years of service in local government. I got to meet bright, young lawyers from across the state and developed an appreciation for what Te Virginia Bar Association means to Virginia's legal community Paul Fraim and judicial system." Many other past chairs and members of the Young Lawyers Division have achieved great success, made important contribu- tions to the state and pro- fession and found involve- ment in the YLD to be a highlight of their careers. (See sidebar, page 33.) "A lot of lawyers have gotten a lot more out of the practice of law because they were involved with the Young Lawyers Division than they would have if they had been chained to their desks for the early parts of their careers," Van Buren said. "Tey have learned how much satisfaction they can get from public service and built rela- tionships that will serve them through- out their careers." If you are under 37 or new to the practice of law and could benefit from leadership training, advanced profes- sional development, statewide contacts and the good feeling of serving your community and profession, break the chains and get involved in the VBA's Young Lawyers Division. Q Molly McClennen is a freelance writer living in Oak Park, Ill. 34 t VBA JOURNAL