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Both reciprocity and the bar exam are administered through the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. You may visit their Web site at www.vbbe.state.va.us or call them at (804) 786-7490 between the hours of 10–12 and 2–4.
The Virginia State Bar cannot change your name until it has been changed with the Virginia Supreme Court if you have qualified before the court or with the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners if you have not been qualified. When you change it with the appropriate agency they will send us a name change order and we will change it in the Virginia State Bar membership database automatically. To change it with the Virginia Supreme Court please contact them at (804) 786-2251 or download their form at http://www.courts.state.va.us/courts/scv/forms.html. To change your name with the Board of Bar Examiners please contact them at (804) 786-7490 between the hours of 10–12 or 2–4.
To return to Active status you must submit a written request to upgrade, pay the Active fee (or the difference between the Associate and Active fee if you have already paid the Associate fee for the year), complete the Professional Liability Form and complete your MCLE obligations before your status can be upgraded. The Professional Liability form is on our dues statement and can be downloaded from our website. To determine how many MCLE hours you need to complete, please contact the MCLE department at (804) 775-0577.
To switch to disabled status you must submit proof of a disability from a doctor along with your written request.
To qualify for Retired status you must be 70 or must turn 70 within the current fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Please submit a written request or check the box in the status change section on your dues statement marked “retired.�?
The dean of your law school must submit a letter to the Executive Director of the Virginia State Bar certifying that you have completed all the necessary requirements as outlined in The Rules of the Virginia Supreme Court, Part 6, Section IV, Paragraph 15. Please review the Third Year Student Practice Rule (Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 15 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia at http://www.vsb.org/site/regulation/guidelines/ -- click on Organization & Government of the Virginia State Bar and go to page 154 of the 2007-2008 Professional Guidelines or download the PDF file directly from here and go to page 154) and the sample request letter (Word doc).
In order to resign as a member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar, an attorney must be current with all membership obligations. Prior to resignation, please see readmission requirements pursuant to Paragraph 13-25 B. Part 6, Section IV, of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. If you wish to resign, the Resignation Application must be signed, notarized and filed with the Clerk of the Disciplinary System, Virginia State Bar, pursuant to Paragraph 13-27 Part 6, Section IV, of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.For questions concerning the ramifications of resigning your membership with the Virginia State Bar and other classes of membership that may be available to you, please contact the VSB Membership Department at (804) 775-0535 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
VSB Resignation Application Form (Word doc)
Updated: September 9, 2009