Walter Alexander McFarlane

Walter Alexander McFarlane is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Top Attorney for the successes he has garnered in the field of Law in acknowledgment for his role as Professor Emeritus at the University of Richmond.

Walter Alexander McFarlane has attained over 44 years in the field of law. Before attaining emeritus status in 2015, Mr. McFarlane served as a professor at the University of Richmond since 1978. An educator with vast knowledge and diversified experience, he also served as the executive assistant, chief counsel and director of policy at the Governor’s Office with Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994 and superintendent in the Department of Correctional Education with the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1994 to 2010. Mr. McFarlane has also succeeded in the roles of assistant attorney general with the Office of the Virginia Attorney General in 1969 to 1973; deputy attorney general in the Office of the Virginia Attorney General from 1973 to 1990; acting director of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice in 1997; and consulting attorney for three Virginia governors between 1998 and 2010.

An academic scholar, Mr. McFarlane graduated from Emory & Henry College, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree. Later he went on to earn his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Richmond. He has been admitted to practice law in Virginia, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth and D.C. Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

A respected voice in his field, Mr. McFarlane continuously shared his expertise and contributed articles to professional journals.

He has maintained active involvement with several professional organizations including, the Virginia Bar Association, Virginia Correctional Association as president, the Woodland Pond Home Owners Association on its board of directors as well as the Meadowbrook Country club. He is on the board for The American Correctional Association on its board of governors, the Emory & Henry College Alumni Association as president, and the Richmond Bar Association on its board of directors. In addition, Mr. McFarlane sat on the state board of the Department of Criminal Justice Services for 16 years. At this time, he also maintained civic involvement with the Central Virginia chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, the Greater Midlothian Civic League, the Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church, the American Red Cross and the Windsor Forest Civic Association, where he served as president from 1975 to 1976.

In recognition of his acclaimed career, Mr. McFarlane has been awarded many professional accolades and honors. While serving the University of Richmond, Mr. McFarlane was named the A.L. Philpott Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law in 2003. In light of his excellent service in the military, he received the National Defense Medal and the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal. Additionally, he was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Correctional Association, the J.D. Buscher Distinguished Attorney Award, the John C. Vance Legal Writing Award, and the Fourth Annual Outstanding Evening Lecturer Award.

In his free time, Mr. McFarlane enjoys hunting in his spare time.