University of Richmond law professor to receive lifetime achievement in family law award from Virginia State Bar
March 17, 2009
The Virginia State Bar Family Law Section will present its 2009 lifetime achievement award to Peter Swisher, professor at the University of Richmond School of Law.
The award recognizes people who have demonstrated excellence and integrity and have made a substantial contribution to the practice of family law in Virginia. It will be presented April 24 at the section's annual Family Law Seminar in Richmond.
In nominating Swisher, Fairfax attorney Aaron J. Christoff cited his extensive writing and service to the VSB Family Law Section. He said that aside from teaching family law and inspiring many soon-to-be lawyers to take on the challenges of practicing family law, Swisher has authored the books that so many family law practitioners keep close. "He has propelled and contributed to the evolution of family law in Virginia for nearly three decades."
A member of the law school faculty since 1974, Swisher is co-author of "Virginia Family Law: Theory, Practice and Forms," "Understanding Family Law" and "Family Law: Cases, Materials and Problems."
Law school Dean John G. Douglass said Swisher "has built a career of remarkable achievement as a family law teacher, scholar and advocate in Virginia and across the nation."
For almost a decade, Swisher was editor of the Virginia Family Law News, a quarterly publication of the VSB's Family Law Section, and he served on the Family Law Section Board of Governors for 12 years. He is past chair of the Association of American Law Schools' Family and Juvenile Law Section, a past member of the Virginia Bar Association's Family Law Coalition and a founding director on the board of the National Center for Family Law. He serves as a reporter for civil cases for the Virginia Court of Appeals.
As the section's law school liaison, Swisher helped establish a family law award in all Virginia law schools, and he helped develop legislation through the Virginia Bar Association's Domestic Relations Council.
Swisher earned his bachelor's degree from Amherst College, master's from Stanford University and law degree from the University of California Hastings College of Law.