Get Involved in the Diversity Section

A joint initiative with the VSB’s Young Lawyers Section. This program is a week-long camp that teaches high school students about a life and career in the law. Students learn how to put on a trial, meet local officials and judges, learn the etiquette and social norms of attorney life, and apply their lessons through a mock trial and networking reception. The 2026 Institute will take place July 5–10, 2026 at the University of Richmond.

Institute Application

With an ever-growing, ever-changing population, the need for varying perspectives and experiences within the legal profession has become even more important. The communities and the public we serve benefit from a robust, engaged legal profession. In 2000, as a result of a recognized need for diversity in the legal profession, the VSB President formed the Millennium Diversity Initiative (MDI).

In 2001, at the request of the MDI, the Young Lawyers Section implemented the Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute (the “Institute”). Named for legendary civil rights attorneys Oliver Hill and Samuel Tucker, the Institute reaches future lawyers at an early age to provide them with exposure and opportunity to explore the legal profession.

The VSB Diversity Section was established in 2010 and became an Institute cosponsor soon thereafter. The Institute is now a joint program of the Diversity and Young Lawyers Sections and receives generous grant funding from the Virginia Law Foundation.

For one week, high school students are introduced to the legal profession by living on a college campus and attending mock classes (complete with overnight reading assignments) and seminars on career opportunities in the law, test taking strategies, and the college admissions process. The students meet with law school professors, judges, guest lecturers, and VSB and local bar association members. The students participate in other programs geared their all-round professional development, such as a networking social and an etiquette dinner. At the end of the week, the students participate in a mock trial based on pre-written trial materials used in national trial competitions. The Institute culminates in a graduation banquet where a prominent member of the VSB is the featured speaker.

If you have questions about the Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute, please contact the Institute co-directors at [email protected].

Interested in participating as a volunteer at the Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Institute? Please contact the Institute co-directors at [email protected].

This initiative pairs two law students from each of Virginia’s law schools with mentors to serve as partners for the VSB Annual Meeting. Students get to attend all functions, networking with the VSB’s leadership, staff, attorneys, judges, and Supreme Court of Virginia justices.

The Diversity Section provides an annual program where attorneys and judges discuss the current legal issues and provide the best practices for fostering and encouraging full and equal participation in Virginia’s legal profession where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect and in ensuring that Virginia meets the legal needs of an ever-changing population.

The forum began in 2018 and annually brings together lawyers and legal professionals in a day-long discussion about issues impacting Virginia’s legal profession and communities from varying perspectives and their impact on the practice of law in the Commonwealth. The forum offers CLE credit and prior sessions have covered topics like cognitive biases and how they impact decision-making; best business practices; and how incorporating varying perspectives benefits the profession, businesses, and the public.

The forum usually takes place in the spring. Keep an eye on the website's calendar for future ones.

The Diversity Section is a major contributor to the activities at the VSB Annual Meeting, providing a signature CLE program discussing access to justice, outreach, or engagement issues in the profession. At the section luncheon, the Diversity Section conducts its annual meeting of its membership, electing new members of the Board of Governors and awarding its Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. Achievement Award recipient.

The Diversity Section joins with numerous groups to put on a program where local students can learn about the courts, the legislative process, and interact with attorneys and judges in an educational setting. This program attracts hundreds of middle and high school students and provides rewarding experience for all involved.

The Diversity Section participates with the other sections to provide programming at conferences and programs around the Commonwealth.

Diversity Section at the VSB Annual Meeting

The Diversity Section is very active at the VSB Annual Meeting. Each year, VSB members participate in Conference events alongside leadership. Our committees plan, promote, and implement a showcase CLE program, host networking events and an annual meeting of the Section, recognize award recipients, and work closely with the Law School Subcommittee on the Mentor/Mentee Initiative.

Showcase CLE presentation at Annual Meeting

The Diversity Section typically sponsors a showcase presentation issues relevant to the VSB membership. We cover topics relating to recent legal developments, access to justice, outreach, and engagement issues in the profession.

Mentor/Mentee Initiative at Annual Meeting

We are fostering the next generation of lawyers by bringing them to the Annual Meeting. Two students from each Virginia law school come to the Annual Meeting and participate in the morning and afternoon CLE programs, networking receptions, plenary programs, the VSB Annual Meeting Banquet, and a dinner for mentors and mentees. Students are nominated by their schools for participation at the Annual Meeting.

Dunnaville Achievement Award

The Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. Achievement Award honors a member of the VSB for setting an example that fellow members can emulate to meet the conference’s goal of fostering and encouraging full and equal participation in Virginia’s legal profession where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect and in ensuring that Virginia meets the legal needs of an ever-changing population. The award commemorates the life of Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. and his unceasing devotion to civil rights in our Commonwealth. The inaugural award was presented to Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. in 2012.

This committee implements new pipeline and community projects and to support existing projects, including state and local Rule of Law Programs, reaches out to the community, to elementary, middle and high schools, church and civic groups and other associations and entities to promote a better understanding of the legal system, encourages individuals at an early age to seek a career in the legal profession with all of the opportunities that can be afforded to someone, and to instill confidence in them to believe that they can.

Tasks include:

1. Sponsor, promote and assist Rule of Law Day at the Capitol
2. Sponsor, promote and assist Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute
3. Implement new pipeline/ladder projects to elementary, middle and high school students and other community projects

This committee builds a bridge between the VSB and the law schools in our Commonwealth. We provide attorney mentors to the law students, teach about the Rule of Law and to enable law students to become citizen lawyers upon their graduation and admission to the VSB, establish close working relationships with the law schools and obtain their ideas on how the Diversity Section can assist them in fostering and encouraging full and equal participation in their school, lend its support to those programs and create new ones, and reach out to the local and specialty bars in this endeavor.

Tasks include:

1. Mentor/Mentee Initiative at the Annual Meeting and sustain throughout the year.
2. Facilitate mentoring of law school students.
3. Presentations to law schools on the topics of: outreach and engagement; fostering and encouraging full and equal participation in Virginia’s legal profession; treating all individuals with dignity and respect; and ensuring that Virginia meets the legal needs of an ever-changing population.

This committee publicizes the Diversity Section mission and activities, expands the social media footprint through Facebook, Twitter, etc., and contributes articles for and publishes the quarterly newsletter, Invictus.

Tasks include:

1. Enhance and build content on VSB Diversity Section website with assistance of VSB webmaster.
2. Contribute articles and serve as editor or assistant editor of newsletter, Invictus.
3. Expand social media presence through the Diversity Section’s Facebook page, Twitter account, and YouTube account.

The Diversity Section's newsletter, Invictus, is available online and always looking to promote the work of the section and its members.

This committee informs the members of the VSB, the local and specialty bar associations, and the law schools how they can become members of the Disciplinary Conference, and to seek continued growth in membership.

Tasks include:

1. Distribute and replenish stock of membership brochures; design and order permanent Diversity Section display banner.
2. Attend and promote Diversity Section membership at the October and February new lawyers swearing in ceremony and First Day in Practice seminars.
3. Communicate with membership about volunteer opportunities.
4. Organize and promote social events for members throughout the Commonwealth, in the fall and spring of each year, other than the Annual Meeting. View our calendar of events.

The Diversity Section provides an annual program where attorneys and judges discuss the current legal issues and provide the best practices for fostering and encouraging full and equal participation in Virginia’s legal profession where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect and in ensuring that Virginia meets the legal needs of an ever-changing population.

The Forum began in 2018 and annually brings together lawyers and legal professionals in a day-long discussion about issues impacting Virginia’s legal profession and communities from varying perspectives and their impact on the practice of law in the Commonwealth. The Forum offers CLE credit and prior sessions have covered topics like cognitive biases and how they impact decision-making; best business practices; and how incorporating varying perspectives benefits the profession, businesses, and the public.

The Forum usually takes place in the fall. Keep an eye on the section's calendar for future ones.