VAPA’S 15th Biennial Statewide Conference (2026)/A Team Effort: The Role of Paralegals in High Profile Cases /Immigration Law in 2026: How to Identify Risks and Opportunities in Your Cases
Tidewater Paralegal Association
Session One:
UNDERSTANDING CANNABIS LAW IN THE COMMONWEALTH
• Cannabis – overarching introduction.
• Hemp vs Marijuana (legal vs illegal).
• Hemp Virginia History- early colonial era- required to grow- mandatory cultivation. Ropes and sails. Legal tender. George Washington and Jefferson.
– Industrial Hemp grower, processor, dealer licenses available through VDACS.
– Medical Marijuana – 5 licenses, HSA1 license status.
– Recreational/adult use market – NOT legal – yet.
– (Seeds: cannot sell – falls under current marijuana definition.) BUT NO THC levels. DEA seed letter over source rule.
– Legalized market – potential $300 million in tax revenue.
– Virginia is currently the 4th largest illicit market in the country.
Session Agenda: Cannabis-in-the-Commonwealth-Outline.pdf
Learning Objectives:
UNDERSTANDING CANNABIS LAW IN THE COMMONWEALTH
Virginia Law Overview
Federal Law: Differences between federal and state law
LEGAL ASPECTS OF CANNABIS BUSINESS
Business opportunities in the Commonwealth (prior to newest legislation for adult-use market)
Session Two:
The Rise of a high-profile case
Pre-Trial issues
Trial considerations (both inside and outside the courtroom)
Media considerations
Advice from the front lines
Session Agenda: Woods-Rogers-Rottenborn-Presentation-10.6.pptx
Learning Objectives:
What to expect and how to handle a high-profile case
What to expect and how to handle the pre-trial stage of a high-profile case
What to expect and how to handle the trial, both inside and outside the courtroom
How to handle the media for high-profile case
Session Three:
Why Immigration Issues Matter in Every Practice Area
Key Questions to Ask During Intake
Screen for Risk of Immigration Enforcement
Immigration Consequences by Practice Area
Potential Immigration Opportunities
Red Flags Requiring Immediate Referral
Best Practices for Paralegals
Session Agenda: Immigration-Law-in-2026_-Presentation-Outline-Miriam-Fisher.pdf
Learning Objectives:
Learning about Immigration Issues that Matter in Every Practice Area
What are key questions to Ask During Intake and learn why they are important.
How to screen for Risk of Immigration Enforcement and importance of information gathered
Immigration Consequences by Practice Area
Potential Immigration Opportunities
Red Flags Requiring Immediate Referral
Best Practices for Paralegals
CLE Hours = 3 (1-Nonsubstantive, 2-Substantive)