Michael Goodove was recently inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2025 Hall of Fame, an honor that recognizes attorneys with more than 30 years of service who have made meaningful contributions to the law, the Bar, and the quality of justice in Virginia.

To mark the occasion, Virginia Lawyers Weekly asked Michael to reflect on his career, influences, and experiences along the way.

Growing up:
I’m a lifelong resident of Virginia Beach and have wonderful memories of summers at the beach with family and friends. My childhood friends are still some of my closest.

Early reviews:
Kind and hardworking.

On mentorship:
Giving back to the legal community has been an honor. Continual learning and growth are essential to the profession, and mentoring allows me to learn and grow from those I work with.

Professional accomplishment:
I was selected to serve as a substitute judge in General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. That experience gave me a broader perspective and made me a better trial lawyer.

First job:
In high school and college, I worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. That experience taught me valuable interpersonal skills that I still use in my legal career.

Biggest challenge:
Time management. I’ve worked hard to add more hours to the day, but eventually had to accept that there are only 24, and some of that time needs to be spent sleeping.

I might have been:
That’s a good question. I became a lawyer because I didn’t do too well in pre-med.

Guilty pleasure:
Putting my phone on Do Not Disturb.

Favorite getaway:
Either in the water surfing or boating, or on a ski slope.

Next act:
Accept that there is another act in my life and embrace it.

You don’t know:
I have no rhythm, but I think that I do.

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The Virginia Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame honors attorneys who have practiced law for 30 years or more and have made meaningful contributions to the profession and the broader community. It celebrates individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their careers, helped shape the legal landscape, served the Bar and the Commonwealth, and worked to improve the quality of justice in Virginia.

Michael Goodove embodies each of these ideals. His decades of work in personal injury law, steady leadership, and service through organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving have left a lasting impact on clients and the legal community alike. His dedication to advocacy and integrity continues to set a standard for others in the field.

The 2025 induction ceremony was held on May 16 at the John Marshall Ballrooms in Richmond, where Michael was recognized alongside a distinguished group of honorees. It was a proud moment that marked a career defined by purpose, service, and meaningful contributions to justice in Virginia.

We are thrilled to announce that our attorneys, Michael Goodove and Elizabeth Ufkes, have been selected as 2025 Super Lawyers in the area of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Law. This prestigious recognition is a testament to their unwavering commitment to advocating for individuals who have suffered due to the negligence of others.

Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized rating service that identifies outstanding lawyers across more than 70 practice areas. The selection process is rigorous, involving peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations of professional achievements. Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state are honored with this distinction SuperLawyers.com.

Michael and Elizabeth have consistently demonstrated excellence in representing clients in personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and premises liability. Their dedication to justice and client advocacy has not only earned them the respect of their peers but also the gratitude of countless clients.

We congratulate Michael and Elizabeth on this well-deserved honor and remain committed to providing exceptional legal services to our community.

We are proud to announce another year of recognition for our outstanding attorneys in the 2024 Super Lawyers selections. Congratulations to Michael Goodove and Elizabeth Ufkes for their recognition in Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, Jeffrey Swartz in Criminal Defense. This honor reflects their dedication to justice and professional excellence, qualities that define our firm. At Swartz, Taliaferro, Goodove & Ufkes, we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of advocacy in personal injury and criminal defense litigation. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Super Lawyers for this esteemed recognition, reinforcing our dedication to our clients and the legal community.

Article by:  Conor Hollingsworth
View the full article on WTKR News Channel 3

Next weekend marks Super Bowl Sunday. A day of football, tasty dips and for some, drinks.

However, for those getting behind the wheel, local organizations want you to know, if you’re driving under the influence, you’re not just risking your own life, but the lives of everyone on the roads.

“There’s a lot of problems in society where we’re searching for the cure. Well this is one we have the cure for, just don’t do it,” said Mike Goodove, President of the Southside Chapter of Moms Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Goodove lost his brother to a drunk driver in 1990. He says, not only will your decision to drive impaired affect innocent lives, but it will land you in a lot of trouble.

“If you choose to get impaired and get behind the wheel, not only are you taking a tremendous risk with injuring or killing people, but you’re going to be locked up. And the courts take it very seriously,” he said.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 163 crashes, 94 injuries, and three fatalities during Super Bowl 2023. As part of an initiative sponsored by a different organization, Drive Safe Hampton Roads, between the hours of 7p.m. and 1a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, residents in the area will be able enter ‘757 Sober Ride’ code on the Lyft app under the payment tab, and get up to $15 off a safe ride home. For some, that could mean a free ride.

“If we can take an impaired driver and not put them behind the wheel, we’ve saved not one life but many lives on the roadway,” Goodove said.

Not only are there organizations encouraging responsible drivers next weekend, but so are local bars and restaurants.

“It puts our licenses in risk. So not only do we wanna not have anybody get injured drinking and driving, but we wanna protect our businesses as well,” said Jason Janezeck with Keagan’s Irish Pub.

Janezeck says rideshare services are always waiting out the pub ready to take people home who need it.

You can click here for a link to the Lyft deal. The promo code will be posted at 7p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday.

The holiday season is usually a festive time, but it can also be a dangerous time on the roads. Police have stepped up patrols across Virginia, trying to catch people driving while impaired.

The added patrols are a part of Virginia’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. 145 agencies across the commonwealth are taking part, with 646 saturation patrols and 71 sobriety checkpoints planned through New Year’s Day.

Last year, 432 Virginians were injured and 23 people lost their lives between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office. That represents a 77 percent increase in fatalities from the previous holiday season.

“It’s sort of ironic because it’s a very happy season for many people,” said Michael Goodove, head of the Southside chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). “But it can turn tragic so quickly. And that’s why so important to exercise a higher degree of vigilance during this time.”

Goodove lost his brother in a drunk driving crash more than 30 years ago. And ever since, he’s been advocating for laws and other efforts to get drunk drivers off the roads.

“In society we have problems where we search and search and search for solutions, with impaired driving we have the solution for it and there a lot of resources available,” he said. There’s no excuse for it now.”

The Virginia State Police recommends these steps for people planning to attend holiday parties this weekend:

1. Plan ahead – designate a sober driver, call a friend, or utilize public transportation, cabs or ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft
2. Don’t let your friends drive drunk
3. Remain alert for impaired drivers on highways..and dial #77 to reach the nearest Virginia State Police emergency communications center. The agency says one call could save someone’s life.

Goodove said it also comes down to personal responsibility.
“They wear the seat belts, they practice safe driving stuff,” he said. “I think we all know it. … The time has come and it’s overdue that we should implement these tools.”

Alcohol isn’t the only cause of impairment that’s concerning officials. There’s a growing number of incidents from driving while being impaired by drugs like marijuana. Goodove said that will likely be a focus of MADD and law enforcement in the new year.

Article by: Samuel King | View the full story on WTKR.com