Annual Regulatory Compliance

A separate agency, the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners initially licenses Virginia lawyers through administration of the bar exam or processing out-of-state requests for admission through reciprocity. Once licensed, all Virginia lawyers must register and maintain their license to practice law with the Virginia State Bar. 

To maintain their license, Virginia lawyers must:

  • Adhere to the Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Pay all annual dues and fees by July 31. See compliance deadlines calendar below for additional deadlines and information.
  • Maintain an address of record, email of record, contact information, and other information required during the annual dues renewal.
  • And Active and Emeritus lawyers must complete the annual MCLE requirement by October 31. CLE hours must be reported no later than 4:45 p.m. EST December 15. See compliance deadlines calendar below for additional deadlines and information.

Lawyers must also register their legal business entities with the Virginia State Bar, and a lawyer seeking to act as a Real Estate Settlement Agent must register with the Bar. 

Failure to meet these obligations will result in delinquency fees, possible administrative suspension, and disciplinary action pursuant to the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Part 6, Section IV.

Annual Dues and Fees Mandatory Continuing Legal Education

Compliance Deadlines

Pursuant to the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Organization and Government for the Virginia State Bar (Part Six, Section IV, Paragraphs 11, 13.1, 13.2, 16, 17, 18 and 19), attorneys must comply annually with the following deadlines in order to remain lawyers in good standing of the Virginia State Bar.

The Regulatory Compliance Department sends mail and email communications to attorneys’ addresses and emails of record. The notices described below are mailed, however, information regarding annual compliance requirements may also be included in the monthly VSB News emails, Virginia Lawyer magazine, and in the VSB Portal.

Note that the VSB hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. EST. All annual compliance requirements must be received by close of business.

Annual Dues Requirement

All licensed Virginia lawyers have some annual obligation that must be met.

NOTE: This is a separate obligation from the annual MCLE requirement.

DATE NOTICE DETAILS
Mid-June A reminder postcard will be mailed in 2024 to pay online. Dues statements will not be sent by mail. Reminder to include:
Annual Dues Payment (Paragraph 11)
Clients’ Protection Fund (CPF) Fee (Paragraph 16)
Attorney Wellness Fund Fee (Paragraph 23)
Professional Liability Certification (Paragraph 18)
July 31 Deadline to remit required fees and information for annual dues.
Early August Past Due Annual Dues Notices mailed. Delinquency fees assessed for non-compliance with each of the four Rules of Court, above ($25 each) by July 31.
Early October Administrative Suspensions for failure to pay annual dues, Wellness fee, CPF fee and/or certify professional liability insurance (Paragraph 19); Reinstatement fees assessed for each Rule of Court suspension ($75 each).

Annual MCLE Requirement

Part Six, Section IV, Paragraphs 13.2, 17, and 19
See also MCLE Regulation 108
Only Active and Emeritus attorneys have an annual MCLE obligation. This is a separate obligation from the annual dues requirement. 

DATE NOTICE DETAILS
October 31 Annual MCLE requirement must be completed. The $100 Noncompliance fee is assessed to attorneys who do not complete the minimum number of required hours by this date. (Paragraphs 17(C), 13.2, 19)
Early November MCLE Form 1 End of Year Reports Distributed Provided to all attorneys with an MCLE requirement. The form displays the individual’s transcript for the preceding period ending October 31. Each attorney should review their record to ensure that it is complete and accurate. Instructions are provided for reporting hours for courses pending approval and for seeking credit for non-approved courses. (Regulation 108(e))
December 15 The $100 Late Filing fee is assessed to attorneys who do not report the minimum required CLE hours by this date. (Paragraph 19)
Early January 60-Day Notice of Impending MCLE Suspension mailed. Mailed to attorneys still delinquent in hours and to attorneys who owe MCLE delinquency fees. (Paragraph 19)
February 1 Attorneys who do not report the minimum required hours by this date are assessed an additional $100 Late Filing fee. (Paragraph 19)
Early to Mid-March Administrative suspension for failure to complete the MCLE requirement and/or pay MCLE delinquency fees. $250 Reinstatement fee assessed plus an additional $50 fee for each previous MCLE suspension (not to exceed $500). (Paragraphs 13.2 and 19)