Old Dominion Bar Association (ODBA)

02/18/2025

February is Black History Month—let's celebrate the contributions, resilience, and achievements of Black legal professionals who have shaped the legal field and our communities. We recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in fostering a stronger and healthier profession.

At VJLAP, we are committed to providing support and resources to ensure the well-being of all attorneys, judges, and law students. This month, and every month, we stand together in promoting a profession where everyone thrives.

02/01/2025

Join the Old Dominion Bar Association in celebrating Black History Month. Throughout the Month, we will celebrate the lives, memories and careers of African American Judges and Attorneys whose trailblazing careers have so indelibly changed Virginia, and the practice of law in Virginia for the better. We hope that you are as excited to learn their stories as we are to share them.

Happy Black History Month from the Old Dominion Bar Association!

01/30/2025

The Old Dominion Bar Association joins together with our community in celebrating the life, legacy, and memory of Henry Marsh. Senator Marsh was a long time member of the Old Dominion Bar Association and a trailblazing civil rights attorney and public servant the Commonwealth. He championed equal rights for all Americans.

Born in 1933, Senator Marsh was born and raised in Richmond. He attended Virginia Union University where he studied Sociology. While there, he advocated for desegregation, testifying before Virginia's General Assembly to eliminate it entirely from Virginia. While there, he took the interest of veteran civil rights attorney, Oliver Hill, who encouraged Marsh to attend law school. Taking Hill’s advice, Marsh attended Howard University School of Law, where his roommate was L. Douglas Wilder. After graduation, Senator Marsh went on to serve his country in the United States Army.

Senator Marsh returned to Richmond and started his practice, Tucker and Marsh, partnering with civil rights attorney Samuel Tucker. Shortly thereafter, Marsh’s mentor and friend Oliver Hill joined their firm creating the landmark civil rights litigation firm, “Hill, Tucker and Marsh." That firm proved to be Virginia's Ground Zero of civil rights litigation and ushered in substantial changes to the then-status quo regarding racial and social injustices throughout America in desegregation cases.

Senator Marsh served for 25 years on the Richmond City Council, and 22 years in the Virginia State Senate, where he advocated for his community. In 1977 he became the first African American Mayor for the City of Richmond, later joining the Virginia Senate, remaining there until 2014. He was later appointed as a commissioner for Va's ABC Board.

Senator Marsh’s contributions to our community are impossible to capture in such limited space. A consummate public servant, Senator Marsh advocated for the most vulnerable members of our community as a litigator, legislator, and as Mayor. Today we celebrate the life, legacy and memory of Senator Henry Marsh. He was an iconic attorney and long time member of the ODBA. We celebrate the indelible contributions that he has made over the course of his 91 years of life. He will certainly be missed.

01/24/2025

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

The Old Dominion Bar Association is hosting its Winter Meeting in Arlington, Va. This year's meeting is packed with phenomenal speakers, informational CLE's, fellowship, and fun.

Friday, January 31st, we have arranged a Day-Trip to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. That is just the warm up! Friday evening we will have a party/reception at the Crystal City Sports Pub!

Saturday, we have a day filled with informational CLE's and phenomenal speakers. ODBA's own Robert C. "Bobby" Scott Congressman Bobby Scott, U.S. Congressman for Virginia's 3rd District, will kick off our day with a warm ODBA Welcome to our members, guests and friends. Our Keynote Luncheon Speaker is the phenomenal Roger A. Fairfax, Jr., , Dean of Howard University School of Law.

Throughout the day we will have some truly fantastic CLE's. Hon. Dominique Callins from Virginia's Court of Appeals will present a CLE on perfecting civil appeals. Hon. Katie Uston, of Alexandria's Circuit Court will present a CLE on Ethics, incorporating her observations from the Bench. Hon. Vanessa Jordan, and Hon. Dipti Pidikiti-Smith, both of Fairfax General District Court, will present a fantastic CLE on Hip Hop, Justice, and the Law. Closing out, we will have Ms. Sarah Endres, from VJLAP - Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program to present another ethics CLE, "A Duty to be Well." That is 4.5 hours of proposed MCLE Credits (credits are pending approval with VSB), including 2 hours of Ethics credits!

This weekend will have something for everyone! A field trip to the NMAAHC, a Party, CLE's, good fun, great people, and family! Tickets are still available, for more information, or to book your RSVP, please go to https://olddominionbarassociation.com/event-5980610.

See you there!

04/09/2024

Come play golf and support a law student! The ODBA Foundation is hosting the William T. Mason, Jr. Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 16th at the Cypress Point Country Club. Click the link for more details and to register. https://givebutter.com/2024ODBAFGolf

04/08/2024

Join us May 16-19, 2024 at the 84th Annual ODBA Conference. This year's conference will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites North Beach located at 3900 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, A. Early bird registration is open until April 15th! Register today by visiting www.olddominionbarassociation.com

03/05/2024

The ODBA supported the Awards Dinner for the Regent BLSA chapter. The award honorees include the Honorable Doris Henderson Causey of the Court of Appeals for Virginia, Norfolk Attorney Alexander McBath, Esq., and Regent law student, Melissa Lucien. The Honorable Vivian Henderson of Virginia Beach General District Court, was the keynote speaker.

02/15/2024

Register Today!!
www.olddominionbarassociation.com

01/22/2024

Register today! 5 hours of CLEs*, lunch, networking and more

*subject to approval

www.olddominionbarassociation.com

01/11/2024

Don L. Scott was sworn in as speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Wednesday, making history as the first Black speaker in the chamber’s 405-year history.

01/11/2024