June 5, 2024
William David Dolan III, 1943–2024
The Virginia State Bar mourns the loss of William David Dolan III, the 1984–85 president of the VSB, who died on May 28, 2024, at the age of 80.
As VSB president, Mr. Dolan ushered in many watershed changes to the legal profession in Virginia, including creating the mandatory Professionalism Course for newly admitted attorneys and establishing mandatory continuing legal education requirements in Virginia. Additionally, Mr. Dolan’s term saw the creation of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Program (now known as the Virginia Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program), the VSB Health Law Section, and a special project on minority participation meant to encourage diversity in the lawyers who volunteer with the VSB.
In addition to his presidency, Mr. Dolan’s service at the VSB included serving as chair of the Professionalism Committee and as a member of the Professionalism Course faculty. Outside of the VSB, he gave his time to many state and local boards and committees such as the State Board for Virginia Community Colleges (of which he was chair) and the Arlington Community Foundation Board of Trustees. He was also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation, and the Virginia Law Foundation. Mr. Dolan was twice the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia.
After graduating from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Mr. Dolan began a highly successful legal career in civil and criminal litigation. He commonly represented companies in business disputes, defended lawyers against legal malpractice claims, and handled criminal matters in state and federal court. At the time of his passing, Mr. Dolan was a solo practitioner at William D. Dolan, III, PC.
Mr. Dolan’s obituary can be found online.