Professional Guidelines

An agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia

• VSB Home

• Rules and Regulations
• Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Preamble: A Lawyer's Responsibilities
  • Cross Reference Table
  • Rules 1.1 - 1.18 - Client-Lawyer Relationship
    • Rule 1.1
    • Rule 1.2
    • Rule 1.3
    • Rule 1.4
    • Rule 1.5
    • Rule 1.6
    • Rule 1.7
    • Rule 1.8
    • Rule 1.9
    • Rule 1.10
    • Rule 1.11
    • Rule 1.12
    • Rule 1.13
    • Rule 1.14
    • Rule 1.15
    • Rule 1.16
    • Rule 1.17
    • Rule 1.18
  • Rules 2.1 - 2.11 - Counselor and Third Party Neutral
    • Rule 2.1
    • Rule 2.2
    • Rule 2.3
    • Rule 2.4
    • Rule 2.10
    • Rule 2.11
  • Rules 3.1 - 3.9 - Advocate
    • Rule 3.1
    • Rule 3.2
    • Rule 3.3
    • Rule 3.4
    • Rule 3.5
    • Rule 3.6
    • Rule 3.7
    • Rule 3.8
    • Rule 3.9
  • Rules 4.1 - 4.4 - Transactions With Persons Other Than Clients
    • Rule 4.1
    • Rule 4.2
    • Rule 4.3
    • Rule 4.4
  • Rules 5.1 - 5.8 - Law Firms and Associations
    • Rule 5.1
    • Rule 5.2
    • Rule 5.3
    • Rule 5.4
    • Rule 5.5
    • Rule 5.6
    • Rule 5.7
    • Rule 5.8
  • Rules 6.1 - 6.5 - Public Service
    • Rule 6.1
    • Rule 6.2
    • Rule 6.3
    • Rule 6.4
    • Rule 6.5
  • Rules 7.1 - 7.5 - Information About Legal Services
    • Rule 7.1
    • Rule 7.2
    • Rule 7.3
    • Rule 7.4
    • Rule 7.5
  • Rules 8.1 - 8.5 - Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession
    • Rule 8.1
    • Rule 8.2
    • Rule 8.3
    • Rule 8.4
    • Rule 8.5
• Legal Ethics Opinions
• Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinions
• Organization & Government of the Virginia State Bar
  • 1. Name
  • 2. Membership
  • 3. Classes of Members
  • 4. Officers
  • 5. The Council
  • 6. Election of Council
  • 7. Meetings of the Council
  • 8. Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Bar
  • 9. Powers of the Council
  • 10. Promulgation of Legal Ethics, Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinions, and Rules of Court; Informal Staff Opinions of Ethics Counsel; and Complaints of Unauthorized Practice of Law
  • 11. Dues
  • 12. Disbursements
  • 13. Procedure for Disciplining, Suspending, and Disbarring Attorneys
    • 13-1 Definitions
    • 13-1.1 Burden of Proof
    • 13-2 Authority of the Courts
    • 13-3 General Administrative Authority of Council
    • 13-4 Establishment of District Committees
    • 13-5 Authority and Duties of COLD
    • 13-6 Disciplinary Board
    • 13-7 District Committees
    • 13-8 Bar Counsel
    • 13-9 Clerk of the Disciplinary System
    • 13-10 Processing of Complaints by Bar Counsel
    • 13-11 Limited Right to Discovery
    • 13-12 Substantial Compliance, Notice and Evidentiary Rulings
    • 13-13 Participation and Disqualification of Counsel
    • 13-14 Disqualification of District Committee Member or Board Member
    • 13-15 Subcommittee Action
    • 13-16 District Committee Proceedings
    • 13-17 Perfecting an Appeal of a District Committee Determination by the Respondent
    • 13-18 Board Proceedings Upon Certification
    • 13-19 Board Proceedings Upon Appeal
    • 13-20 Board Proceedings Upon Certification for Sanction Determination
    • 13-21 Board Proceedings Upon a First Offender Plea
    • 13-22 Board Proceedings Upon a Guilty Plea or an Adjudication of a Crime
    • 13-23 Board Proceedings Upon Impairment
    • 13-24 Board Proceedings Upon Disbarment, Revocation or Suspension in Another Jurisdiction
    • 13-25 Board Proceedings for Reinstatement
    • 13-26 Appeal from Board Determinations
    • 13-27 Resignation
    • 13-28 Consent to Revocation
    • 13-29 Duties of Disbarred or Suspended Respondent
    • 13-30 Confidentiality of Disciplinary Records and Proceedings
    • 13-31 Dismissal of Complaints and Charges of Misconduct Upon Revocation Without Consent, or Upon Death
  • 13.1 Suspension for Failure to Complete Professionalism Course
  • 13.2 Suspension for Failure to Complete Continuing Legal Education Requirement
  • 13.4 Insurance coverage requirement for respondents under Va. Code § 54.1-3935(C)
  • 14. Professional Corporations, Professional Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Limited Liability Entities). (Limited Liabilities Entities).
  • 15. Third Year Student Rule
  • 16. Clients' Protection Fund
  • 17. Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulations
  • 18. Financial Responsibility
  • 19. Procedure for the Administrative Suspension of a Member
  • 20. Maintenance of Trust Accounts Notice of Election Requirements
  • 21. Computerized Legal Research Service Rule
  • 22. Voluntary Pro Bono Publico Legal Services Reporting
  • 23. Attorney Wellness Fund
• Reciprocity: Admission on Motion
• Pro Hac Vice
• Corporate Counsel Limited Admission and Registration
• Foreign Attorneys — Registered Military Legal Assistance Attorneys
• Foreign Legal Consultant
• Military Spouse Provisional Admission
• Bylaws of the Virginia State Bar and Council
• Unauthorized Practice Rules
• Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulations
• Clients’ Protection Fund Rules
• Attorney Trust Account Regulations
• Regulations of Attorney Real Estate Settlement Agents
• Virginia Licensed Legal Aid Society Regulations
• Principles of Professionalism
• Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster

• Actions on Rule Changes and Legal Ethics Opinions

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