Just Virginia

Remote and hybrid work are reshaping how young professionals learn, build careers, and connect with others. In this episode of Just Virginia, Professor Emma Harrington of the University of Virginia shares research with host and CEO Alison Martin on the hidden costs of remote work, including reduced feedback, mentorship, and opportunities for career development.   The conversation explores what the...

K. Denise Rucker Krepp , recipient of the Virginia State Bar Military and Veterans Law Section’s 2026 Pro Bono Award, shares her journey of service and advocacy for military members, veterans, and survivors of sexual assault. She and host Karl Doss, VP of CLE , discuss the legal challenges survivors face, the importance of accountability and transparency, and how attorneys can use their time and e...

How can law firms build thriving workplaces across generations while navigating rapid technological change? Sophie Curdts Mohrmann has ideas about it and joins host and CEO Alison Martin for a lively discussion. As director of attorney development and engagement at Williams Mullen, Sophie has been called “the sociologist for the law firm,” studying groups and thinking about how they can better con...

“Being first is hard. Making sure you’re not the last…That’s leadership,” remarked keynote speaker Eva DeVirgilis at last year’s Women and the Law Institute. Our next guests, Colleen Quinn and Claire Guthrie Gastañaga , chaired that exciting inaugural institute and join us today to continue the conversation about women in the legal profession. Both attorneys are passionate changemakers in the fiel...

In this episode of Just Virginia, host and VP of CLE Karl Doss speaks with Jeannie Franklin, mediator, conflict management professional, and recipient of the 2025 Civility in the Law Award from the Virginia Law Foundation.  Drawing from decades of legal practice and her work in dispute resolution through Franklin Solutions, Jeannie explores why civility is not weakness or superficial politeness bu...

In this episode of Just Virginia, Court of Appeals of Virginia Judge Daniel Ortiz shares the personal journey that led him from UVA, Capitol Hill, and commercial litigation to the bench, along with the experiences that deepened his commitment to public service and access to justice. Judge Ortiz also offers a thoughtful look at recent developments from the Supreme Court of Virginia, including leade...

What makes the Virginia State Bar a CAN-DO organization? Values that start with creativity and span to service to others and, of course, committed leadership. On today’s episode, Brett Marston, 87th President of the VSB and Managing Partner at Gentry Locke, and Cameron Rountree, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the VSB, discuss the bar’s mission and work with VP of CLE Karl Doss. ...

In this episode of Just Virginia,  CEO Alison Martin  welcomes recently retired  Judge Penney S. Azcarate , whose 18 years on the bench culminated in her service as chief judge of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. Chief Judge Azcarate reflects on the experiences that shaped her path—from her service as a U.S. Marine Corps officer during Operation Desert Storm to her transition into law, trial prac...

Joining the pod today are two leaders whose mission-driven collaborations help keep Virginia at the forefront of the nation’s legal well-being movement: Hetal Challa, Wellness Coordinator for the Supreme Court's Virginia Lawyers Wellness Initiative, and Tim Carroll, Executive Director of the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.  Tune in for a heartening discussion about their work educa...

In an episode with as much warmth and shared wisdom as an actual mentorship session, the Honorable Tyneka L.D. Flythe and CEO Alison Martin explore how mentorship can promote wellness. Join them for an uplifting conversation on the importance of human connection in our age of algorithms, taking care of things “outside the briefcase,” and the generosity of a profession whose members are always pour...

The podcast welcomes two distinguished guests this week as Vice President of CLE Karl Doss hosts an engaging forum on EGAD VA­ -- the Virginia State Bar’s 2025 report on “Entry, Growth, and Distribution of Virginia Attorneys.” Joining us are former VSB President Chidi James, partner at Blankingship and Keith in Fairfax (and new VLF Fellow and Board member!), and Crista Gantz, Director of Access to...

Trevor S. Cox joins CEO Alison Martin for a delightful conversation about public service, appellate advocacy, and the pleasure of hard-copy books. Growing up in history-steeped Lexington, this Hunton litigator once considered becoming a historian until his senior thesis at Harvard—on Lincoln’s first attorney general—enticed him toward the law. He would go on to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court...

On the eve of Well-Being in Law Week, it may surprise you to hear our next guest,  psychologist Dr. Kelly Crace , holds that striving for work-life balance is counterproductive! The executive director of the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia goes beyond platitudes with  Vice President of Marketing, Development, and Philanthropy Katie Arata  for a thoughtful look at flouri...

In this episode, we explore the changing landscape of lawyers’ professional independence and the ethical implications of evolving business structures in the legal profession. Our guest is Tom Spahn of McGuireWoods , a nationally recognized authority on legal ethics and attorney‑client privilege. A Class of 1998 Fellow, Tom has long helped the Virginia Law Foundation uphold the legal education pill...

Thomas Dunlap’s fascinating path to the law winds through acting and banking in New York, serving as a Recon Scout in the U.S. Army, earning an MBA and a masters in biotech, and starting a nanosciences company. The founding partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig (a podcaster himself) joins Senior Director of Seminars, John Rotman, to discuss one of the hottest topics in the field of law: the black...

Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, has devoted her whole career to making a more just Virginia. (In fact, she was recently inducted as a 2026 Virginia Law Foundation Fellow to celebrate those efforts!) Christie joins VP of CLE, Karl Doss, to share how her work in legal aid led her to statewide housing advocacy and explain why housing stability is centr...

Steve Noona   Stephen E. Noona, chair of litigation at Kaufman & Canoles, joins CEO Alison Martin for the inaugural episode of Just Virginia. The double Hoo from Tidewater credits his father with instilling the value of giving back (and his four sisters with honing his early argument and persuasive skills!). Steve’s passion for the VLF’s community and philanthropic work hasn’t abated since he...

Coming soon! Through biweekly episodes,  JUST VIRGINIA  brings you conversations with changemakers, legal leaders, and everyday advocates serving the Commonwealth and beyond. From recent developments to community-driven solutions, this podcast spotlights initiatives expanding access to justice and championing the Rule of Law and explores relevant topics to educate attorneys and the community at-la...