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Firm Profile
About Our Practice
We are a general practice law firm dedicated to providing a wide range of quality legal services to our clients. We enjoy serving the Hampton Roads community and are proud of our deep roots in the region. Ronald D. Slaven, Jr., the owner and principal of the firm, has practiced in the Hampton Roads area since his admission to the bar. James T. Wise, former member of the firm and now retired, was a seasoned and well beloved attorney who served Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and the surrounding Hampton Roads community for over three decades. John W. Jelich, III, who recently joined the firm in an "Of Counsel" position, has also served Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and the surrounding Hampton Roads community for the past three decades.
Meet Our Attorneys
Ronald D. Slaven, Jr., Esquire
Ronald (Ronnie) D. Slaven, Jr., is the Firm's principal attorney. His career experience is that of a small-firm general practice litigator. That role has helped Mr. Slaven appreciate the individual nature of each client and case. He enjoys helping individuals, especially underdogs, overcome legal challenges. He has enjoyed the variety that comes with a broad practice, as well as the independence and flexibility that a small firm environment permits. In recent years, Mr. Slaven has deepened the firm's involvement in real estate and probate matters. He serves as fiduciary for many estates, conservatorships and trusts. He is frequently involved in real estate partition cases involving inherited real estate. He also still litigates cases involving real estate contracts, contested wills and other real estate and probate matters. Mr. Slaven currently represents the City of Chesapeake and the City Treasurer in connection with collecting delinquent real estate taxes. He also serves as one of the Commissioners in Chancery for the Chesapeake Circuit Court.
John W. Jelich, III, Esquire
john@slavenlawgroup.com
John is an "of counsel" member of Slaven Law Group with more than forty years of legal experience. He has handled serious felony cases including capital murder, and civil matters including personal injury, real estate, contractor/construction disputes, divorces and custody, etc.. He also represents a number of corporate clients, and his office practice includes business entity formation, sales of businesses, preparation of wills, powers of attorney, and other legal matters. He also represented the City of Chesapeake and City Treasurer for over thirty years as their legal counsel for delinquent real estate tax suits, and has been appointed and served as Special Commissioner to the Chesapeake Circuit Court during that same period.
Mr. Jelich completed his undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and also graduated thereafter from Wake Forest University School of Law. While in law school, he was accepted into the United States Navy's Judge Advocate General Program, and after graduation from law school, began his active duty in Norfolk, Virginia for two years handling numerous military courts-martial cases. He completed his last two years of active duty as the Staff Judge Advocate for the base commander at Fleet Combat Training Center, Dam Neck, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He changed his designator to intelligence officer, and remained part of the United States Naval Reserves for seventeen years after leaving active duty, retiring as a commander. After leaving active duty, Mr. Jelich was an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Chesapeake, Virginia, for almost two years, and prosecuted numerous felony and misdemeanor cases. Thereafter, he entered private law practice and since 1987, has had his own firm.
Education: Graduated Cum Laude, Wake Forest University, 1975 B.A. History
Graduated Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D. 1978
Affiliations & Recognitions:
Admitted to Practice in all North Carolina State Courts - 1978
Admitted to Practice in all Virginia State Courts - 1981
Admitted to Practice Federal District Court, Eastern District, VA, & United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, Chesapeake, VA 1982-1984
Sadler, Swan & Jelich, General Law Practice, Norfolk, VA 1984-1987
John W. Jelich, III, General Law Practice, Chesapeake, VA 1987 to 2016
Past President, Chesapeake Bar Association
Meet Our Staff Team Members
Janet Walton Dukes
Paralegal
She began her journey in law in March 1992, when she moved to Chesapeake, Virginia from Rock Island, Illinois to be a Legal Assistant to her father, James M. Walton, Sr., who was a Commissioner in Chancery at that time. She is a Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She became a Certified Paralegal in March 2000. Her forte is Family Law.
Angel Zombar
Receptionist/Legal Assistant
Angel Zombar joined us with over 14 years of experience in the law enforcement field and has worked in the administration field for over 20 years. She is licensed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services in several different categories including as an instructor. She has lived in Hampton Roads most of her life and is very active in Chesapeake Little League and Chesapeake Parks and Recreation with her four children.
Avis Fisher
Paralegal
Avis joined the Slaven Law Group team in November 2014, when she moved to the Hampton Roads community from Florida. She has extensive and in-depth management, human resources, and executive administrative support experience in both the public and private sectors. Avis has been recognized for her outstanding performance and leadership skills on multiple occasions during her career. She is a registered Notary Public in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Avis is honored to be the mother of three wonderful children and delighted to play the role of "Grammy" to five grandchildren.
