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Image source: http://norfolk.photodeck.com/-/galleries/city-of-norfolk-courthouse/-/medias/4709b6d4-634c-434c-9b97-2335ff9fc171-norfolk-courthouse-06-26-18 Author: Andrew Cooper - City of Norfolk photographer

Join the Norfolk & portsmouth Bar Association

The NPBA has served the Legal Profession, the Judiciary and the Public since 1900. Membership is open to licensed attorneys, law students, legal administrators, and the local military legal community.


Join us

NPBA is excited to announce new annual sponsorship and advertising opportunities for 2024-2025. Can we count on you?

Sponsor and Advertise with NPBA in 2024-2025!

Click link above to learn more!

Notice of NPBA Bylaws Amendment Vote on October 15, 2024

The Executive Committee of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association is in the process of reviewing the organization’s Bylaws. In accordance with the current Bylaws’ amendment article XIV,

ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total members of the Executive Committee of the Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association at a scheduled meeting, provided that written notice of the vote to amend the By-Laws with the proposed amendments be (1) posted on the NPBA website and (2) circulated by email to the NPBA membership at least 30 days in advance of the scheduled vote to allow review and comment by the membership.

The Executive Committee is opening a comment period through October 15, 2024, for the new membership category:

[Proposed Membership Category]

Proposed new language to be added to Article I, Membership:

Retired Members    

Any Active or Associate Member who (1) has been an Active or Associate Member; (2) who retires; and (3) who is not engaged in the practice of law or employed in a legal capacity, may apply to be a Retired Member. Applications for Retired Members shall be sent in writing to the Secretary of the Association using the form provided by the Executive Committee. Retired Members shall have all Active member privileges with reduced annual membership dues.

Email comments to contact@norfolkandportsmouthbar.org.

Upcoming events

  • Inagural Robert C. Nusbaum Visiting Professorship In Law, Medicine & Medical Ethics

    • Wednesday, October 16, 2024
    • 5:30 PM
    • Waitzer Hall - Room 200 - 735 Fairfax Avenue - Norfolk, VA

    Featuring:

    Audiey C. Kao, MD, PhD

    Vice President, Ethics Group | Editor In Chief, Journal of Ethics
    American Medical Association


    Evening Lecture

    Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

    Waitzer Hall

    Room 200

    735 Fairfax Avenue

    Norfolk, VA

    5:30 p.m. Registration and Dinner

    6:30 p.m. Lecture

    "Bias and Trust in Clinical Decision Making"

    Objectives:

    • Assess resaons for bias in clinical decision-making
    • Evaluate how bias can undermine patient trust and ways to minimize such bias

    Click here for more information

    To Register Click Here: Email cilental@odu.edu

    Show details

  • Monthly Luncheon - Audiey C. Kao, MD, PhD

    • Thursday, October 17, 2024
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • Norfolk Courthouse Rotunda
    • 26
    Register

    October 17, 2024

    Registration required

    12:00pm to 1:00pm

    Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members

    Registration includes boxed lunch and water.

    Audiey C. Kao, MD, PhD, Vice President of Ethics, American Medical Association (AMA) and keynote speaker for the Inaugural Nusbaum Visiting Professorship in Law, Medicine and Medical Ethics (Robert C. Nusbaum Visiting Professorship)

    Dr. Audiey Kao is Vice President of Ethics at the American Medical Association and editor in chief of the AMA Journal of Ethics. In this position, Dr. Kao oversees AMA’s educational, research, and policy-setting activities relevant to medical ethics and physician professionalism. Graduated magna cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley with degrees in biochemistry and economics, he received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Kao earned a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard University. His work has been published in JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, Academic Medicine, and other leading medical journals. 

    Show details

  • CLE - "Reproductive Medicine: The Intersection of Law"

    • Thursday, October 17, 2024
    • 1:05 PM - 2:05 PM
    • Norfolk Courthouse First Floor Training Room
    • 4
    Register

    Registration Required!

    NPBA Members: Free
    Not yet NPBA Members: $30.00 (1 CLE Credit)

    Summary:

    • Termination of Pregnancy
      • The current law in Virginia Va. Code Ann. Sec. 18.2-71, et. seq.
      • The Conscience Clause Va. Code Ann. 18.2-75 (the intersection of ethics and the law)
    • Genetic Testing
      • Wrongful life claims (when a false negative prevents parents from making decision to terminate a pregnancy, does a child have a claim for wrongful life and future damages)
      • Ethical Considerations associated with Wrongful life claims
    • IVF/Products of Conception
      • Property or something else (what claims exist when products of conception are lost or destroyed)
      • Ethical considerations that could result in policy changes in the law

    22 Person Limit due to capacity

    Presenters: 

    M. Todd Gerber, Esq., Poole Brooke Plumlee, PC

    Todd is the Co-Managing Shareholder of Poole Brooke Plumlee PC.  He is Chairman of the Firm’s Health Care Practice Group. His practice includes the representation of hospitals, physicians, long term care facilities and other health care providers in medical malpractice litigation, disciplinary actions and regulatory matters. He has successfully defended health care providers in circuit courts around the Commonwealth and before the Supreme Court of Virginia. 

    In 1989 he received a degree in Finance from University of Notre Dame and graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1992.  He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1992, the Virginia Bar in 1993 and the South Carolina Bar in 1995.

    He has been repeatedly elected by his peers to be included in Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite in the category of Health Law and since 2011, has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America. In 2022 he was named by Best Lawyers as the Health Care Lawyer of the Year for Norfolk. 

    Mr. Gerber has authored numerous articles and is frequently invited to speak at CME programs, Grand Rounds and Risk Management Conferences.

    Dr Audiey Kao

    Dr. Audiey Kao is Vice President of Ethics at the American Medical Association and editor in chief of the AMA Journal of Ethics. In this position, Dr. Kao oversees AMA’s educational, research, and policy-setting activities relevant to medical ethics and physician professionalism. Graduated magna cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley with degrees in biochemistry and economics, he received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Kao earned a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard University. His work has been published in JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, Academic Medicine, and other leading medical journals. 

    Number of CLE hours: 1.0

    Areas of Law:  Civil Litigation

    Must be present at the start of the CLE program until the end in order to receive credit(s).

    Additional Details:
    Please contact bar association staff at (757) 622-3152 or email contact@norfolkportsmouthbar.org if you have any questions.

    *Application for approval for this course or program is pending with the Virginia Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board.

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  • Bench Bar Relations Committee Meeting

    • Monday, October 21, 2024
    • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    • Norfolk Law Library

    Purpose of the Committee – To support and improve the local administration of justice, enhance service to the community, and increase professionalism within the legal system by exploring issues of emerging concern or interest that affect the local bench and bar (the specific issues to be explored ultimately will be determined by the committee); additionally, the committee will liaise with the Bench-Bar Conference Committee and Young Lawyers Section regarding appropriate topics.

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  • Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: Housing Eviction Program - CLE and Clinic

    • Wednesday, October 23, 2024
    • Zoom

    We Can Join together to Help Reduce the Eviction Crisis in Our Community

    Affordable housing can be difficult to find, especially for people who have limited income. A person’s rental history may be extremely important in the search for affordable housing. Potential landlords may check to determine if there have been one or more “Unlawful Detainers” filed against a person seeking to rent residential property. Unfortunately, the records stay in the Virginia Court Case Information (VCCI) system, usually for 10 years – even cases that were dismissed or nonsuited.

    A new law was enacted in Virginia in 2022 (Virginia Code Section 8.01-130.01 / Unlawful Detainer; Expungement). This law allows an eviction case that was dismissed or non-suited (and no possession was granted) to be removed from public court records after a certain of amount of time has passed. After an expungement is completed by the court, the case is then removed from VCCI. A cleaner rental history may make it easier for people to obtain future affordable housing.

    The Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (LASEVA) received a grant to help address the eviction crisis in our service area by engaging volunteer attorneys via an Eviction Expungement Project (EEP) to clear up tenants’ rental and credit histories, thereby reducing some barriers to obtaining affordable housing.

    As part of this project, LASEVA is offering a 1-hour free CLE (Housing Law – Unlawful Detainer Expungements) followed by a ½ hour clinic to handle cases. The CLE, via zoom virtual format, has been approved by the Virginia State Bar for 1-hour CLE.

    Upcoming CLEs for 2024:

    May

    5/22/24

    June

    6/26/24

    September

    9/25/24

    October

    10/23/24

    To participate in the CLE & Clinic and for additional information, please contact:

    Janet James, Esquire

    Pro Bono Expungement Grant Attorney

    Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia

    Phone: 757-305-9007

    janetj@laseva.org


    Show details

  • CLE: "Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Decision-Making Alternatives"

    • Wednesday, October 23, 2024
    • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Norfolk Courthouse Training Room - 1st Floor
    • 18
    Register

    Registration Required!

    October 23, 2024
    NPBA Members: Free
    Not yet NPBA Members: $30.00 (2 CLE Credits)

    Summary:

    • Agency Documents
    • Guardianship/Conservatorship Code Overview (including recent updates)
    • Guardianship/Conservatorship Timeline
    • Guardianship/Conservatorship Best Practices

      22 Person Limit due to capacity

      Presenters:  Nicholas R. Thompson, William & Mary Elder & Disability Law Clinic

      Nick Thompson is currently an adjunct professor of law at William & Mary Law School and is the managing attorney at its Elder & Disability Law Clinic. Nick has managed the Clinic since September 2020. At the Clinic, Nick regularly handles matters related to family and elder and disability law. He primarily represents clients before circuit courts in guardianship and conservatorship matters and counsels clients on estate planning issues. Nick serves on the board of Boaz and Ruth based in Richmond, Virginia. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Richmond Bar Association.

      Nick earned his JD/MBA from William & Mary. After graduating law school, Nick began his legal career as an associate at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP located in Richmond, Virginia. At Hunton, Nick’s practice focused on commercial financing matters across the energy industry. He advised lenders and borrowers in connection with commercial financing matters across a broad range of industries and asset classes, with a particular focus on renewable and conventional energy assets.

      During the fall of 2021, Nick lateralled as an associate at Dechert LLP located in Washington, D.C. At Dechert, Nick represented private equity, private company, and public company clients on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

      Number of CLE hours: 2

      Areas of Law:  Guardianship, Contervatorship, Elder Law, DIsability Law

      Must be present at the start of the CLE program until the end in order to receive credit(s).

      Additional Details:
      Please contact bar association staff at (757) 622-3152 or email contact@norfolkportsmouthbar.org if you have any questions.

      Show details

    • CLE: "Defending Defamation: The Challenges of Defamation Claims in Virginia"

      • Thursday, October 24, 2024
      • 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse - First Floor Training Room
      Register

      Registration Required!

      October 24, 2024
      NPBA Members: Free
      Not yet NPBA Members: $30.00 (1 CLE Credit)

      Summary:

      1.      What is Defamation in Virginia?
      a.      Basic summary of defamation (includes libel and slander)
      b.      Elements of Defamation
      c.       Two primary types of defamation in Virginia:
                                                              i.            Defamation Per Se
                                                             ii.            Defamation Per Quod
      2.      Defamatory Publication
      a.      Publication element of defamation
      b.      What qualifies as a publication?
      c.       Intent
      d.      What the statement actually heard and understood by third parties?
      3.      Actionable Statements
      e.      Statements must be false.
      f.        Defamatory Sting
                                                              i.            Reputational damage
                                                             ii.            Professional damage
      a.      Defamation Per Se vs Defamation Per Quod
                                                              i.           Rule in Virginia that all defamation is either per se or  per quod.

      4.      Defamation and the First Amendment

      g.      Intimately connected.
      h.      Opinion and true statements protected.
      i.        Different standards for public officials, public figures, and private individuals.
      j.        Crucial U.S. Supreme Court Cases
      5.      Defenses to Defamation
      k.       Privileges
      i.        Litigation privilege, qualified privilege, statutory privileges.
      l.        Opinion
      m.    Truth
      n.      Innocent Construction
      o.      Ecclesiastical Abstention

      22 Person Limit due to capacity

      Presenter(s):

      Kole F. Donaldson, Attorney, Wolcott Rivers Gates

      Kole F. Donaldson is an attorney with Wolcott Rivers Gates and focuses his practice on civil litigation. Kole received his Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School in May of 2022 and was admitted to the Virginia Bar in October of 2022. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2019 from Hampden-Sydney College, where he studied history and religion. He joined Wolcott Rivers Gates in 2023. Prior to joining the firm, Kole completed a clerkship at the Norfolk Circuit Court, assisting the Judges with case preparation and court administration. He interacted daily with judges, court staff, attorneys, and litigants, making him comfortable with the litigation process, court procedure, and effective methods of preparation for civil hearings and trials.

      The Hon. Everett A. Martin, Jr., Norfolk Circuit Court

      Judge Martin joined the VBA member in 1990 and is a former VBA Board of Governors judicial representative. He also has served on the Civil Litigation Section Council and as vice chair of the Judicial Section.

      The Carrico award honors the longest serving chief justice and longest serving member in the history of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Recipients - one a year - have "demonstrated exceptional leadership in the administration of the courts while exhibiting the traits of integrity, courtesy, impartiality, wisdom and humility." All appellate, circuit and district court judges are eligible for nomination.

      Judge Martin became a judge of the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in 1990 and was elected as a judge in Norfolk Circuit Court in 1995. Earlier, he was in private practice and served as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Norfolk.

      In addition to his contributions to the VBA, the award recipient has served on the Supreme Court's Ad Hoc Committee on Local Rules, which produced the uniform scheduling order and Rule 4:15; the Circuit Court Forms Committee; and the Law Council of his undergrad and law school alma mater, Washington and Lee University. He also serves on the invitation-only Boyd-Graves Conference.

      As a judge, he has presided over more than 450 jury trials, contributed to legal scholarship in Virginia law journals, served for nearly 30 years as a bar examiner for the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, and participated in numerous conferences and educational programs, including at VBA events.

      Judge Martin received the Harry L. Carrico Outstanding Career Service Award May 11 at the annual meeting of the Judicial Conference of Virginia.

      Number of CLE hours: 1 Ethics

      Areas of Law:  Tort Defense/Civil Litigation

      Must be present at the start of the CLE program until the end in order to receive credit(s).

      Show details

    • YLS Fall Social

      • Sunday, November 03, 2024
      • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
      • Judge Hall's Home
      Register

      Time TBD - More Information to come.

      Show details

    • NPBA Executive Committee Meeting

      • Wednesday, November 13, 2024
      • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Show details

    • Monthly Luncheon

      • Thursday, November 21, 2024
      • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
      • Norfolk Courtbouse Rotunda
      • 55
      Register

      November 21, 2024

      12:00pm to 1:00pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members

      Registration includes boxed lunch and water.

      Join us for the monthly luncheon meeting on November 21, 2024, More Information to Come!


      Show details

    • CLE - More Information to Come

      • Thursday, November 21, 2024
      • 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse First Floor Training Room
      • 22
      Register

      November 21, 2024

      1:15pm to 2:15pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members



      Show details

    • Holiday Party

      • Tuesday, December 10, 2024
      • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
      • The Harbor Club / 333 Waterside Drive / Norfolk, VA 23510

      Join for a New Venue in 2024 at The Harbor Club in the Waterside District!

      Please mark your calendars for what will be a wonderful event and opportunity to socialize with some colleagues and fellow members of the bar before the end of the year!

      The holiday party is free and open to ALL NPBA MEMBERS!

      We look forward to seeing everyone for this end of year event!  Please feel free to e-mail with any questions or concerns.

      Please RSVP by December 6th!!

      Show details

    • NPBA Executive Committee Meeting (Tentative)

      • Wednesday, December 11, 2024
      • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Show details

    • NPBA Executive Committee Meeting

      • Wednesday, January 08, 2025
      • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Show details

    • Monthly Luncheon

      • Thursday, January 16, 2025
      • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse Rotunda
      • 55
      Register

      January 16, 2025

      12:00pm to 1:00pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members

      Registration includes boxed lunch and water.

      Join us for the monthly luncheon meeting on January 16, 2025, More Information to Come!



      Show details

    • CLE - More Information to Come

      • Thursday, January 16, 2025
      • 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse First Floor Training Room
      • 22
      Register

      January 16, 2025

      1:15pm to 2:15pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members


      Show details

    • NPBA Executive Committee Meeting

      • Wednesday, February 12, 2025
      • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Show details

    • Monthly Luncheon

      • Thursday, February 20, 2025
      • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse Rotunda
      • 55
      Register

      February 20, 2025

      12:00pm to 1:00pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members

      Registration includes boxed lunch and water.

      Join us for the monthly luncheon meeting on February 20, 2025, More Information to Come!


      Show details

    • CLE - More Information to Come

      • Thursday, February 20, 2025
      • 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse First Floor Training Room
      • 22
      Register

      February 20, 2025

      1:15pm to 2:15pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members


      Show details

    • NPBA Executive Committee Meeting

      • Wednesday, March 12, 2025
      • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Show details

    • Monthly Luncheon

      • Thursday, March 20, 2025
      • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse Rotunda
      • 55
      Register

      March 20, 2025

      12:00pm to 1:00pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members

      Registration includes boxed lunch and water.

      Join us for the monthly luncheon meeting on March 20, 2025, More Information to Come!


      Show details

    • CLE - More Information to Come

      • Thursday, March 20, 2025
      • 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
      • Norfolk Courthouse First Floor Training Room
      • 22
      Register

      March 20, 2025

      1:15pm to 2:15pm

      Free to NPBA members; $30 non-members


      Show details

    • NPBA Executive Committee Meeting

      • Wednesday, April 09, 2025
      • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Show details

    • 27th Annual Bench Bar Conference CLE: Pending

      • Thursday, April 10, 2025
      • 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
      • Hilton Norfolk The Main, 100 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

      SAVE THE DATE! - More Information to Come!

      27th Annual NPBA Bench Bar Conference 2025
      April 10, 2025
      Hilton Norfolk The Main

      11:00 a.m. Registration Opens

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