This registration form is for Wednesday, October 29, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
This program is also available on:
Wednesday, October 8, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, October 22, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
| MCLE Credit: | 6.0 (Ethics: 1.0; Well-Being: 1.5) |
| Live-Interactive Credit: | 6.0 (all dates, all formats) |
| GAL for Children CE Credit: | 5.0 |
| Designation Credit: | 6.0 Divorce and Family Law, 1.0 Ethics (Designations Information) |
Live on Site:
Webcast: (10/22/2025 date only)
Telephone: (10/22/2025 date only)
Cosponsored with the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar
Family law is an ever-changing legal practice area that constitutes most of the civil cases heard in Virginia Circuit Courts. For more than 40 years, this program, cosponsored with the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar, has offered family law attorneys from across Virginia an opportunity to stay up to date on new developments and emerging issues as well as network with colleagues. The seminar will include six hours of live-interactive CLE credit for attorneys, ranging from annual legislative and case law updates to specific sessions on important and challenging family law issues, all presented by an outstanding faculty.
This year’s topics include:
Registration Deadlines:
Live on Site: | Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. the day preceding the seminar |
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $90 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE®.
Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email tfitzgerald@vacle.org.
Inclement Weather Policy and Updates.
MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.
Can’t Attend?
E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.
| 8:30 | Registration |
| 9:00 | Case Law Update Craig W. Sampson, Esq. A thorough review of significant family law cases affecting Virginia attorneys from the past six months. |
| 9:50 | Legislative Update Richard E. Garriott, Esq. A comprehensive summary of the status of recent legislative changes impacting family law in Virginia. |
| 10:30 | Break |
| 10:45 | Trauma, Vicarious Trauma, and the Family Law Attorney: Recognizing the Symptoms and Mitigating the Effects to Promote Well-Being in the Legal Profession (1.5 hours of Well-Being credit) Fairfax: Oneida Huntington, Esq., VJLAP Southwest Region Manager and Barbara Mardigian, LPC, VJLAP Clinical Director Richmond: Barbara Mardigian, LPC, VJLAP Clinical Director; Dr. Andreas Bienert, VJLAP Deputy Clinical Director/Tidewater Region Manager; and Charlene Reilly, Esq., VJLAP Associate Director/Outreach and Education Virginia Beach: Dr. Andreas Bienert, VJLAP Deputy Clinical Director/Tidewater Region Manager and Charlene Reilly, Esq., VJLAP Associate Director/Outreach and Education Family law attorneys are trusted to guide their clients through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Though it is rewarding to help people navigate the close of one chapter and the beginning of the next, the role of the family law attorney often comes with its own challenges. Divorce, custody disputes, criminal and protective order proceedings, and abuse and neglect cases are all emotionally charged and potentially volatile. Clients often project these emotions against the attorneys working on the case. These strong emotions, as well as other occupational risks and stressors, can affect an attorney’s well-being and professional integrity. Throughout the course of representation, family law attorneys may be exposed to sensitive and disturbing auditory and visual materials and stimuli. This exposure can lead to significant distress for the attorney, putting the attorney at heightened risk for trauma, vicarious trauma, and other mental health issues. This course will explore vicarious trauma experienced by family law attorneys and provide practical strategies for addressing and mitigating this impact, to protect the emotional well-being of the attorney, improve competency, and lead to greater occupational satisfaction. |
| 12:15 | Lunch (provided on site) |
| 1:15 | Discovery and the Difficult Client: Strategies for Dealing with the Clients Who Challenge You the Most Heather Cooper, Esq., and Leah Nathan Learn how to (a) recognize the common traits of challenging clients, (b) understand why they behave the way they do, and (c) effectively manage your representation of them without sacrificing your sanity! |
| 2:15 | Break |
| 2:30 | From “I Do” to “I Object:” Common Objections in Family Law Fairfax: The Honorable Dominique Callins Richmond & Virginia Beach: The Honorable Robert Humphreys Divorce and custody trials present complex evidentiary challenges, including social media posts, children’s statements, and financial records. Learn to effectively make and respond to common family law objections, such as hearsay, foundation, relevance, and leading questions, with poise and confidence. This CLE will focus on common hypotheticals to help you improve your courtroom advocacy and build a stronger appellate record. |
| 3:30 | Smart Tech, Smarter Lawyer: Understanding AI and Its Ethical Implications (1 hour of Ethics credit) Fairfax & Virginia Beach: Kellam T. Parks, Esq. Richmond: The Honorable Daniel Ortiz As artificial intelligence revolutionizes legal practice, attorneys often must balance between technological innovation and professional ethics. This session demystifies generative AI technology and its growing impact on legal services, from document review to legal research and drafting. Through practical examples, you will learn how to leverage AI tools effectively while maintaining compliance with your ethical duties. We will examine the relevant ethical rules and recent (and pending) ethics opinions, potential pitfalls, and best practices for implementing AI in your legal practice. Whether you are AI-curious or already using these tools, this course provides essential guidance for maintaining ethical standards in an increasingly automated legal landscape. |
| 4:30 | Adjourn |
Hon. Dominique Callins, Court of Appeals of Virginia / Richmond
Hon. Robert Humphreys, Court of Appeals of Virginia / Richmond
Hon. Daniel E. Ortiz, Court of Appeals of Virginia / Richmond
Dr. Andreas Bienert, Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program / Richmond
Heather Cooper, Cooper Ginsberg Gray PLLC / Fairfax
Richard E. Garriott, Jr., Garriott Maurer, PLLC / Virginia Beach
Oneida Huntington, Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program / Richmond
Barbara Mardigian, Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program / Richmond
Leah Nathan, Ph.D., Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC / Fairfax
Kellam T. Parks, Parks Zeigler, PLLC / Virginia Beach
Charlene Reilly, Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program / Virginia Beach
Craig W. Sampson, Barnes & Diehl, PC / Richmond
Fairfax: Carole Krogmann, Masterman Krogmann PC / McLean
Richmond: Nanda E. Davis, Davis Law Practice PLLC / Roanoke
Virginia Beach: Andrew Richmond, Mahoney Richmond Thurston, PLLC / Virginia Beach
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