The Elder Law and Special Needs Section brings together members of The Virginia Bar Association who are dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to the elderly. Many of our members are well known for their expertise in this area of the law and regularly lecture at CLE programs as well as to various groups and organizations of interested citizens throughout the Commonwealth.
This group's mission is to elevate the necessity of inclusion in the legal profession and the VBA, with a vision toward a bar reflective of Virginia's entire legal community.
Local Bar Associations
We seek to secure equality for the LGBTQ+ community and oppose discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We provide legal education, resources, and information to legal community and the public.
Beginning in 1998, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia (APABA-VA) has focused on promoting the Asian-Pacific American community in Virginia and in the state’s legal community. While the APABA-VA is dedicated to benefiting the Asian-Pacific American community, full membership for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia is open to any licensed attorney or law school graduate. Judges and law students may join APABA-VA at a discounted rate. Throughout the year, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia hosts several social and professional events for its members. Attorneys belonging to the APABA-VA can gain pro bono hours by volunteering at one of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia, Incorporated’s ‘Wills on Wheels’ pro bono sessions. The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia also helps put on several social events for its members that allow them to network with one another, including an annual Asian-American cultural celebration and an annual summer golf outing.
The Greater Peninsula Women’s Bar Association (GPWBA) is committed to maintaining a sense of professional congeniality among the lawyers of the Greater Peninsula area and improving the community that resides in that same region of Virginia. To that end, GPWBA serves the legal community of the 7th, 8th, and 9th Virginia judicial circuits. Membership for the Greater Peninsula Women’s Bar Association is, therefore, open to any attorney that practices in the 7th, 8th, or 9th state judicial circuits, regardless of gender. One of the most important aspects of the Greater Peninsula Women’s Bar Association is the organization’s dedication to being beneficial to the local community. Every year, the Greater Peninsula Women’s Bar Association hosts a Charity Gala, which raises substantial amounts of money that are then donated to local nonprofit organizations such as the Newport News Court Appointed Special Advocates. Additionally, GPWBA reaches out into the community frequently to educate the general public about the judicial system through programs and events including the Color of Justice informational session.
The Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia (HBA-VA) acts as the state chapter for the Hispanic National Bar Association. Most of the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia’s goals focus on advancing Hispanic Americans in the legal profession and furthering the rights of the Hispanic American community. However, membership to the HBA-VA is open to all licensed attorneys, law students, and judicial officers in Virginia. There are several ways that the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia benefits its members’ professional lives. Members of the HBA-VA are able to become more involved the Hispanic immigrant community by volunteering through the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia’s pro bono clinic. Also, the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia produces several continuing legal education classes at different locations throughout the state for its members’ convenience, so that all attorneys that belong to the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia may attend at least a few of these educational programs each year.
Beginning in 1972, the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association (MRWBA) has dedicated itself to the mission of enhancing and furthering the professional development of women working in the legal field. Though the MRWBA is dedicated to being predominantly helpful to the women of the legal community of the greater Richmond area, full membership is open to men as well, so long as they are licensed to practice law in Virginia and works in the metropolitan Richmond area. Recent law school graduates are especially encouraged to join the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association, and the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association waives the membership fee for anyone that has recently graduated from law school or is newly admitted to the Virginia Bar. The Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association provides a variety of resources to its members that they may use to achieve their professional goals. Newer members of the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association are able to connect with more experienced members and learn from them through the MRWBA’s mentor program. Members of the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association are able to increase their legal and professional knowledge by attending the speaker series covering both hot topics in the law and ways to improve one’s work life that the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association hosts throughout the year.
As one of the leading minority bar associations in Virginia, the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association (NOVABAA) focuses on promoting African Americans in the legal community. The Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association is also dedicated to increasing the African American community’s access to the legal profession. An important way that NOVABAA helps African Americans become lawyers is by providing a detailed description of different steps that a person must take at various points in his education in order to becoming an attorney. NOVABAA provides its members several opportunities throughout the year to interact with one another. Every month, the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association hosts either a happy hour or a lunch to allow its members to network with one another. Also, there are several committees within the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association that allow members to work together on programs and projects for the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association that they are passionate about.
The Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (VAELA) is the Virginia state chapter for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. As a chapter organization, membership to Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is only open to lawyers that are already members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. However, any member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys may join the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, as membership is not restricted only to members that live or work in Virginia. Members of the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys benefit from VAELA’s commitment to increasing its members’ knowledge of and skills in the practice of elder law and special needs law. Every year, the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys puts on the two-day UnProgram event for its members, where attendees are able to learn more about developments in special needs and elder law in a round-table discussion setting. The Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys also allows less experienced members to tap into the knowledge of more experienced members through its mentorship program.
Established in 1981, the Virginia Women Attorneys Association (VWAA) was created to further the interests of women in the law, to help female attorneys improve their legal practices, and to build a community among the female lawyers working in Virginia. Though the focus of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association is on women lawyers, membership is open to all law school graduates and lawyers in Virginia. Members of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association may also elect to join one of the eight VWAA regional chapters. The Virginia Women Attorneys Association provides several tools to its members to help them advance their professional careers. Each year, the Virginia Women Attorneys Association presents the “You Be the Judge” program, which is designed to inform female attorneys about the necessary steps one must take to become a judge in Virginia. Also, the Virginia Women Attorneys Association hosts a bi-annual conference featuring speakers on topics that are useful to female lawyers, such as gender bias in the American legal system and defining one’s image outside of traditional marketing.