Join VADA

Thank you for your interest in the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. We are a voluntary bar association comprised of over 850 attorneys whose litigation is primarily focused on the defense of civil actions. 

An Online Application, can be completed and returned to us through this website. The application also contains the eligibility stipulations. First year membership dues are $150. However, if you register for one of VADA's CLE programs, your new member dues for that year will be waived. Contact Sherma Mather for additional details. Please read on to learn about the publications and programs members of the Association enjoy. 

Our principal publication, The Journal of Civil Litigation, is published four times a year. Each edition contains an interesting selection of in-depth articles, as well as summaries of trial court decisions not readily available from other sources. The Journal is now on-line and searchable for members. Non-members may subscribe to the Journal for an annual subscription rate of $100.00. Sherma Mather handles all subscriptions for the Journal. 

Our Annual Meeting is held in October at various locations across the state. This gathering gives our members the chance to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest and enjoy the camaraderie of our group.

Special seminars are also presented for the benefit of lawyers new to the defense bar. For example, the annual "New Associates' Boot Camp" is held each year in early December. This one-day seminar is designed to provide practical, everyday-type information to young attorneys. The legislative interests of VADA are represented before the Virginia General Assembly by our lobbyists, Alexander Macaulay and Lindsay Walton. Together with the Association's Legislative Committee, procedural matters relating to the defense of civil litigation are monitored. Concentration on specific substantive issues is also actively pursued where not covered by business and insurance interests. 

Members of VADA have the option of joining one (or more) substantive law sections: 

• Appellate Advocacy
• Auto & Transportation Liability
• Corporate & Commercial Litigation
• Local Government
• Medical Malpractice
• Policy Coverage
• Product & Toxic Torts
• Professional Liability
• Workers' Compensation
• Young Lawyers Division

These sections offer an excellent opportunity for the exchange of ideas among the members. Special list serves have been set up for the section members on this website in the "members only" area. 

Further information about our CLE offerings, samples of our publications, and questions can be directed to the Executive Director, Sherma Mather, at the offices of the VADA, 11533 Busy Street, #327, N. Chesterfield VA 23236 OR by phone on 804/649-1002 , OR by e-mail.