About the Bar

• Contact the PWCBA
  
• About the PWCBA
• Demographics
  
• History of the PWCBA
• Join the PWCBA
  
• By-Laws
  
• The Prince William Bar Foundation, Inc.
  
• Advertising and Sponsorship

Contact the PWCBA

Alissa N. Hudson
Executive Director
Prince William County Bar Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 31
Manassas, VA 20108

Office Location
Prince William County Judicial Center
9311 Lee Avenue
Third Floor
Main Telephone: 703-393-8865
LRS Telephone: 703-393-2306
Facsimile: 703-331-5683
E-mail: info@pwcba.org

About the PWCBA

The Prince William County Bar Association, Inc. (PWCBA) was established on July 25, 1941, by the seven attorneys that comprised the total of this area's legal community at that time. Though the membership has grown to include approximately 420 attorneys and members of the judiciary, the stated objectives of the organization remain the same: to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of law, and increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice, and the mutual improvement and social intercourse of its members.

The PWCBA accomplishes its objectives through a variety of means:

EDUCATION: The PWCBA is a Virginia State Bar, (VSB), accredited sponsor of Continuing Legal Education, (CLE), seminars. As an accredited sponsor, the bar offers numerous CLE courses annually, to enable members to fulfill their mandatory continuing legal education requirements, as set forth by the VSB. The PWCBA also sponsors a variety of educational programs during monthly membership meetings on topics related to local court procedures, new legislation, legal services, and other topics useful in their practice. In addition to education for members, the PWCBA sponsors many educational projects for the local community to insure public access to and understanding of the legal system.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: The PWCBA's executive board and standing committees work regularly with the courts to develop accepted protocols, organizational and educational tools to aid in the in the administration of justice and to meet the growing need for low cost or pro bono legal services to the community. The PWCBA also operates a Lawyer Referral Service and a Modest Means Panel, which facilitate public access to an attorney.

LIAISON: Developing and maintaining good working relationships with area legislators is accomplished through sponsorship of Candidates Forums, Legislative Issues Forums, the annual Legislators' luncheon and routine and constructive contact with members of the Virginia General Assembly on matters of importance to the bar association. The PWCBA also strives to maintain close working relationships with local, state and national Bar associations. The PWCBA works closely with the Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax Bar Associations to co-sponsor projects and events of interest to the combined membership; with the Virginia State Bar, through active participation in the Conference of Local Bar Associations and Young Lawyer’s Conference activities; and with the American Bar Association though the National Association of Bar Executives. PWCBA members routinely serve the VSB in state leadership roles.

FELLOWSHIP: The annual Dinner Dance is the largest social event planned by the PWCBA, where members can enjoy an evening with their colleagues and with members of the judiciary in a purely social setting. At this event, individual members are recognized for their outstanding achievements in the area of professionalism, pro bono legal service, for their work as court appointed attorneys or guardians ad litem, and for their roles in leadership capacities within the Bar. The Bar celebrated its 60th Anniversary with great fanfare at the February 2001 Dinner Dance. The evening included historical presentations, recognition of all past presidents, and a presentation of a Virginia General Assembly resolution, commemorating a lifetime of service, to the Honorable Arthur W. Sinclair, Jr., the only surviving founding member of the Bar Association. Other social events planned throughout the years have included family picnics, trips to baseball games and barbecues.

BENCH-BAR RELATIONS: The PWCBA interacts with the judiciary in a myriad of ways, including: bench & board meetings to discuss ideas for promoting the administration of justice in the courts, involvement in the judicial screening process when an opening is anticipated on the bench, annual judicial evaluations, and sponsorship of investitures, retirement celebrations and the commissioning of judicial portraits.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Public relations and community service activities are a significant focus for the PWCBA. The bar association routinely supports programs in the schools, reaches out to Senior citizens, and provides support for programs to benefit local at-risk youth. Each year, through the Beat the Odds® program, the PWCBA awards scholarships and educational grants to youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system, and despite the odds against them, have achieved academic and social progress. In addition, the PWCBA produces a number of law related public education brochures which are distributed throughout the courts

LAWYER DISCIPLINE: All regular members of the PWCBA are required to be members in good standing of the Virginia State Bar. The Virginia State Bar is the government agency that regulates lawyers by testing, licensing, and enforcing continuing education requirements. The VSB is also responsible for the discipline of lawyers licensed by the state. To contact the Virginia State Bar, Office of Bar Council, go to their web site at http://www.vsb.org/site/regulation/inquiry/.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATON: The PWCBA is a voluntary professional non-profit organization that provides services and benefits to its members and to the local community. Although participation in the PWCBA is voluntary, we are pleased to report that a significant percentage of the attorneys licensed in the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit maintain membership in the PWCBA.

Demographics

Market Saturation:  There are 581 attorneys registered in the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit in Virginia, which encompasses Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.  There are 418 current and extended members of the Prince William County Bar Association, which translates to 72% market penetration.  If your professional interests are aligned with the local legal community, the PWC Bar is where you want to be.

Current and Extended Membership: 418

Membership in the City of Manassas: 217

Membership in surrounding Prince William County: 128

Membership in surrounding jurisdictions: 73

Number of sole practitioners: 143

Number of law firms with multiple attorneys: 90

Legal disciplines represented by Association members:

Historical Overview

Many of the activities and objectives of the Prince William County Bar Association, Inc. find their roots in the goals outlined by its charter members nearly 70 years ago. Regular meetings of the membership have been called, as necessary, since the organization's inception, July 25, 1941. These meetings have almost always taken place over a meal, (usually at George's Diner in the early days.) From the mid 1960's on, meetings have been held on a regular basis, with the current luncheon and program format beginning in the early 1980s.

The collection of membership dues was instituted early in the history of the PWCBA. The earliest recollections indicate the amount was $15.00 per year.

The establishment of an Executive Board and Standing Committees to conduct the work of the Bar was initiated in the original constitution. The size and composition of the Board and number of committees has changed over the years, to meet the changing needs of the Association.

The PWCBA has taken an active role in the Judicial Selection process, with the earliest references being made to the appointment of Arthur W. Sinclair to the Circuit Court in 1950. At that time, the Circuit included Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties.

The Annual Dinner Dance has been in place since the early 1960's, though the format has changed. It used to be called the President's Annual Social, and took place at the current president's home. Other social events over the years have included family picnics and attendance at sports events.

Continuing Legal Education has been a stated focus of the Bar since 1962. Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements were set forth by the Virginia State Bar in 1987. In 1992, the PWC Bar became an accredited sponsor of CLEs.

Public relations has also been a stated focus for the Bar since 1962, with projects and programs designed to transmit a positive public image of the legal community and to educate the public on law related issues. In prior years, the Bar has sponsored mock trials for area students, supported the American Heart Association's Cardiac Arrest, and conducted Law Day activities. In recent years, the bar has sponsored Candidates Forums, organized a 5K Run during the centennial celebration of the creation of the family courts, distributed "So You're 18" booklets to high school seniors, sponsored the "Beat the Odds" banquet to recognize youth that triumph in the face of adversity, distributed the "Senior Citizen's Handbook" to area senior citizens, volunteered to build homes for Habitat for Humanity, and sponsored an essay contest which focused on character building attributes for middle school students.

The regular publication of a newsletter, to communicate with the membership, began in 1981. At that time, the membership of the local Bar was approaching 100, making communication through personal letters, memos, and phone calls a cumbersome task. The name Hear Ye! Hear Ye! was adopted in 1996.

The PWCBA became a Virginia Corporation in 1982.

In 1991, the Bar Association elected the first woman President, Patricia F. Hammond. The membership was approaching 200 members.

In 1992, The Prince William County Bar Association established the Arthur W. Sinclair Professionalism Award to recognize a member who demonstrates the highest standards of honor, integrity, competency, and courtesy within the legal profession. This award bears the name of the Honorable Arthur W. Sinclair in fitting tribute to the integrity and professionalism that he inspires--the same qualities that the PWCBA seeks to recognize and encourage with this annual award. The first Sinclair Professionalism Award was presented by then Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, Justice Harry Carrico, to the late Turner T. Smith.

The PWCBA also began recognizing local attorneys for outstanding work as court appointed attorneys in the early 1990s. The 31st Judicial Circuit, which is comprised of the Circuit, General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts for the County of Prince William and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, has a distinguished list of court-appointed counsel. The PWCBA's Court-Appointed Attorney of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding dedication, professionalism, and competence of court appointed counsel in each of three courts in our jurisdiction. The PWCBA's Guardian Ad litem of the Year Award recognizes outstanding dedication, professionalism, and competence of local attorneys serving as Guardian ad litems for children and incompetent person's in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

By 1999 the PWCBA recognized the need for and hired an Executive Director. Alissa Hudson became the first Executive Director and represented the first paid staff position supported by the PWCBA. With the establishment of a staff position, came the creation of an infrastructure to support the membership, an increase in the development and implementation of community service projects, and the promise of institutional memory through the years.

The Prince William County Bar Foundation, Inc. was established in 2001 by members of the PWCBA for the exclusive purpose of assisting, strengthening and extending the work, services and objectives of the Bar Association. The funding and support offered through the Foundation enables the PWCBA to undertake projects otherwise beyond its reach. The first such program was the development of a public education brochure for clients receiving court-appointed counsel. The PWCBA is eternally grateful for the hard work and dedication of the members of the Foundation, and for the tremendous support they lend to the quantity and quality of the projects that the Bar Association undertakes.

The PWCBA website was launched in 2002, providing historical and current information about the bar and its programs for the benefit of the public, and more specific information about the Bar for its membership.  Unique to the PWCBA website are the searchable indexes which facilitate public access to an attorney.  A person looking for an attorney can utilize the Lawyer Locator feature, which allows them to search through the entire membership of the PWCBA by practice area of law, to obtain contact information for the attorney selected, and if available, a direct link to the attorney’s website.  Public access to the membership of the Bar through the website helps to ensure quality legal representation for all citizens in the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit.  Members of the PWCBA also find the searchable indexes helpful for lawyer-to-lawyer referrals, and for obtaining current contact information for other members or law firms.  In 2003, the PWCBA established the Pro bono Attorney of the Year Award to recognize an attorney for their dedication to the development and delivery of pro bono legal services to those in need. The attorney honored with this award may have helped to organize a program through which pro bono legal services were delivered to the public, or may have provided direct pro bono legal representation on behalf of the poor. The first recipient of this award was E. Allen Newcomb.

In 2005, the PWCBA launched a Lawyer Referral Service, (LRS) to facilitate public access to an attorney. Through the LRS, clients can receive a referral to an attorney, experienced in the area of law in which assistance is needed, and meet with the attorney for up to 30 minutes for a $35.00 initial consultation fee.  Other benefits of the LRS include positive public relations for the legal profession in general, and potential business development opportunities for the members of the Bar. Integral to the success of the Lawyer Referral Service was the establishment of a public access office for the PWCBA. An office was provided in the Prince William County Judicial Center for use by the PWCBA in the Spring of 2005.

In 2004, the PWCBA launched the listserv as a voluntary means for members to communicate with each other to share practice pointers, to communicate about court procedures, particularly for venues outside the 31st Judicial Circuit, to seek and make referrals to colleagues and generally network.  The service became comprehensive in 2007, when every member was encouraged to participate.  The Bar discontinued use of the global fax, in use at that time, in favor of the listserv as a means of disseminating information to the entire membership of the Bar in an efficient and cost effective manner.

In 2008, the PWCBA launched the Modest Means Panel as a way to provide reduced fee legal representation to clients with limited financial resources.  Clients are screened for eligibility through Legal Services of Northern Virginia, (LSNV).  Through this program, clients whose income is slightly above eligibility guidelines for receiving free legal services through LSNV, can receive representation on a variety of civil matters from a Modest Means Panel Attorney, (MMP).  The MMP Attorney will meet with the client for up to 30 minutes for a $35.00 initial consultation fee, and if the client hires the MMP Attorney to assist them, the attorney will charge the client at a reduced rate.  This program facilitates public access to an attorney for those who need legal representation, but can not afford to hire an attorney at full market rates.

Join the PWCBA

Benefits: Membership in the Prince William County Bar Association, Inc. (PWCBA) provides you with immediate access to your professional colleagues, the judiciary for the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit, and related service providers through a variety of programs and services such as:

• Forums for networking and fellowship through monthly general luncheon meetings and programs, working committees, and annual social events such as the Bar Dinner Dance.
• Membership support services such as the publication of Hear Ye! Hear Ye!, the Bar's monthly newsletter, maintenance of the PWCBA website and  listserv, production of a local membership directory, production of Circuit and General District Court Time Savers Manuals, and a Mentoring Program for those new to the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit.
• Locally produced CLEs at reduced rates. The PWC Bar is an accredited CLE sponsor with the Virginia State Bar.
• Legislative programs designed to build and maintain a good working relationship with members of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates such as candidate’s forums, legislative issues forums, and the annual legislators' luncheon; as well as programs to keep the membership apprised of newly promulgated legislation.
• Opportunities to participate in bench-bar activities such as annual judicial evaluations, judicial screenings to fill vacancies as needed, and judicial recognition events such as investitures, retirement celebrations and the commissioning of portraits.
• Easy access to the court-appointed counsel lists for Circuit, General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts.
• Community service, business development, and positive public relations programs, designed to heighten awareness of and appreciation for the law, to improve the overall image of attorneys, and to keep legal business in Prince William County.
• Access to the Prince William County Lawyer Referral Service and Modest Means Panel.

There is much to gain by joining the PWCBA.

Eligibility:
Regular membership is open to all attorneys who are members in good standing of the Virginia State Bar, who are lawfully licensed to practice law and  who maintain a bona fide office for private practice within the area eccompassed by the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Prince William County, (31st Judicial Circuit); OR who are employed as an attorney by a Federal or State Government, or employed by a private organization, within the 31st Judicial Circuit; OR maintain a substantial portion of their practice at the time of application within the 31st Judicial Circuit; OR maintain their residence within the 31st Judicial Circuit.  This is a voting status. 

Associate membership is available for all attorneys who are currently licensed in another state and/or jurisdiction.  This is a non voting status. 

Senior membership is available for all attorneys who meet the requirements for regular membership, but are also over 60 years of age and are not engaged in practice full time.  This is a voting status.

Student membership is available for those currently enrolled, in an ABA accredited law school.  This is a non voting status.

Sponsorship: Membership applicants must obtain sponsorship by two Regular  members in good standing of the PWCBA. (For a listing of all members in the PWCBA, go to the "Find a Member" section of this website). Student members need only one Regular member in good standing to sponsor.

The application must also be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Dues:

• Regular and Associate members in practice for three years or less pay $100.00 per year.
  
• Regular and Associate members in practice for four or more years pay $150.00 per year.
  
• Senior members pay $75.00 per year.
  
• Student members pay $25.00 per year.

Join Today! To apply for membership, simply print and complete a copy of the application. (You will need Adobe Reader software to print this application.) Or call the PWCBA office at 703-393-8865 to request an application.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

By-laws

View the By-laws (89KB PDF)

Advertising and Sponsorship

Newsletter: Hear Ye! Hear Ye! is the official publication of the Prince William County Bar Association, Inc. (PWCBA). It is published monthly, with a circulation of approximately 420 member attorneys and the judges of the 31st Judicial Circuit. Readership also includes non-attorney staff and court services personnel. Display advertising, Inserts and Classified advertising are accepted. View the current rate card in PDF format.

Continuing Legal Education Seminars: The PWCBA is an accredited CLE sponsor with the Virginia MCLE board. The CLE committee surveys the membership annually to determine topical preferences and sponsors CLEs accordingly. Please contact the PWCBA main office at (info@pwcba.org), or call 703-393-8865 to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.

Special Events: The PWCBA sponsors monthly luncheon meetings, the annual Bench-Bar dinner dance; judicial investitures, portraits and retirement celebrations; candidate’s forums in election years; and community service projects. Please contact the PWCBA main office at info@pwcba.org, or call 703-393-8865, to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for special events that may be planned for the current year.