Section News and Information
October 2, 2006
UPL Opinion Regarding Provision of Pro Bono Services
The VSB Corporate Counsel Section Board of Governors submitted a request for the VSB UPL Committee to render an opinion as to whether it is unauthorized practice of law for an attorney, licensed and admitted to the Virginia State Bar, to provide pro bono services through an independent non-profit legal services entity while employed full time as in-house corporate counsel. The "draft" opinion, which was prompted by the Section's request, was approved by the Virginia UPL Committee on Tuesday, November 28, 2006, and will be published in the next edition of the Virginia Lawyer Register with a request for comment. It concludes that provision of such services would not consitute the unauthorized practice of law. The Corporate Counsel Section's efforts were instrumental in securing this clarification in the interest of pro bono practice by in-house counsel.