This registration form is for Friday, January 31, 8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
This program is also available on:
Friday, February 7, 8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET
MCLE Credit: | 6.5 (Ethics: 1.0) Pending |
VIDC Re-Certification Credit: | 6.5 Pending |
Live-Interactive Credit: | 6.5 (all dates, all formats) |
Designation Credit: | 6.5 Trial Practice/Litigation, 1.0 Ethics (Designations Information) |
Live on Site:
Webcast: (2/7/2025 date only)
VSB Judicial Member (Fee waived).
Live on Site:
Webcast: (2/7/2025 date only)
VSB Judicial Member (Fee waived).
Sponsored by Virginia CLE® in Cooperation with the Section on Criminal Law of the Virginia State Bar
Now in its 55th year, this highly acclaimed annual event always begins with a comprehensive review of developments in substantive and procedural criminal law in the past year. Receive tips straight from the Bench and in-depth discussion on timely topics of critical interest to criminal law practitioners in 2025.
Options for Attending the Seminar
On Friday, January 31, this program will be presented live on site in Charlottesville, with no virtual attendance options. On Friday, February 7, this program will be presented live on site in Williamsburg, where people may attend in person, as well as virtually via live-interactive webcast.
Please note: This seminar is NOT eligible for Virginia CLE® discounts, and Virginia CLE® Online Bundle credits or Unlimited Online Passes may NOT be used to register for this program.
Hotel Accommodations
A block of rooms for the nights prior to the live-on-site programs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. All reservation requests will be handled by the hotels directly: By calling DoubleTree by Hilton: 1-800-222-8733 with reference group name VA State Bar 55th Annual Criminal Law Seminar. The room block for both hotels will be released on January 7, 2025.
Charlottesville: Rate is $119
Williamsburg: Rate is $119
Downloadable E-Book Seminar Materials
ALL registrants will receive access to a complete set of downloadable e-book seminar materials. E-book materials are searchable, easily accessible, and efficient to use. When registering, please be sure to provide a valid e-mail address to which Virginia CLE® can use to distribute the e-book materials. Virginia CLE® will e-mail you a link to the downloadable e-book materials two business days before the seminar. Printed materials will not be available at the seminar.
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®.
Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.
Special Accommodations/Dietary Restrictions: If you plan to attend the seminar in person and need special accommodations or have dietary restrictions, please email tfitzgerald@vacle.org.
This seminar will be conducted in a smoke-free environment.
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.
8:00 | Late Registration and Exhibits |
8:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
8:30 | Recent Developments and Criminal Law Update An annual comprehensive review of developments in substantive and procedural criminal law. This session will provide an update on the development of important case law issued over the past year. |
10:00 | Break |
10:15 | § 19.2-271.6 and § 19.2-303.6: Making Use of Experts and Their Reports This session will pair a forensic clinician with a criminal defense attorney to demystify the forensic evaluation process from the request to usage in court. They will specifically focus on the introduction of mental health evidence under § 19.2-271.6 and deferrals under § 19.2-303.6. |
11:15 | Break |
11:30 | The Download: Cell Phone Technology An Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Intelligence Research Specialist will discuss the technical download, and an experienced attorney will discuss how the data can help or hurt a case and how to prepare your expert witness. |
12:45 | Luncheon Presentation (20 minutes) Williamsburg: Hon. Roger Gregory, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Richmond |
2:00 | Authentication and Admissibility of Electronic Evidence in Virginia This interactive presentation will discuss the evidence rules and principles governing the admissibility of electronic evidence and will contain illustrative hypotheticals requiring audience participation. |
3:15 | Break |
3:30 | The Ethical Attorney: How to Avoid the “Personal and Confidential” Letter No attorney practicing law in Virginia relishes receiving the dreaded envelope from the Virginia State Bar marked “Personal and Confidential.” In this hour of ethics, former Assistant Bar Counsel Paulo E. Franco, Jr., and William W. Tunner will provide you with an overview of the Virginia Attorney Disciplinary System and tips for navigating the process should you be on the receiving end of a complaint. They will also offer some tips and ethical considerations concerning fee agreements, such as how to handle flat fees to keep meritless bar complaints from turning into trust account violation cases. The session will conclude with some hypotheticals regarding ethical issues that confront attorneys in the criminal justice system. |
4:30 | Adjourn |
Hon. Gerald I. Fisher, Senior Judge, District of Columbia Superior Court / Washington, DC
Alfred Gray Collins, III, Colonial Heights Commonwealth Attorney’s Office / Colonial Heights
Paulo E. Franco, Jr., ThompsonMcMullan, P.C. / Richmond
Bradley R. Haywood, Arlington Public Defenders Office / Arlington
Sharon Kelley, UVA Health, Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy, University of Virginia School of Medicine / Charlottesville
Professor Corinna Lain, University of Richmond School of Law / Richmond
Daniel Murrie, UVA Health, Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy, University of Virginia School of Medicine / Charlottesville (Williamsburg seminar only)
Joshua A. Pickens, Special Operations Division, Technical Operations Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives / Richmond
William W. Tunner, ThompsonMcMullan, P.C. / Richmond
Alison G. Powers, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission / Richmond
Charlottesville: Thomas K. Plofchan, Jr., Westlake Legal Group / Sterling
Williamsburg: Hon. Roger Gregory, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Richmond