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
- Rules 2.1 - 2.11 - Counselor and Third Party Neutral
- Rules 3.1 - 3.9 - Advocate
- Rules 4.1 - 4.4 - Transactions With Persons Other Than Clients
- Rules 5.1 - 5.8 - Law Firms and Associations
- Rules 6.1 - 6.5 - Public Service
- Rules 7.1 - 7.5 - Information About Legal Services
- Rules 8.1 - 8.5 - Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession
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
Virginia Legal Aid Counsel
Bylaws of the Virginia State Bar and Council
Unauthorized Practice Rules
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulations
Clients’ Protection Fund Rules
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

The Virginia State Bar

Professional Guidelines

Home > Actions on Rule Changes and Legal Ethics Opinions > the Virginia State Bar’s Standing Committee on Legal Ethics withdrew thirteen Legal Ethics Opinions.

Withdrawn | the Virginia State Bar’s Standing Committee on Legal Ethics withdrew thirteen Legal Ethics Opinions.

View the Current Rule

The Virginia State Bar’s Standing Committee on Legal Ethics has withdrawn thirteen Legal Ethics Opinions.

821: Advertisements

835: Fees—Collections

856: Solicitation of employment—Free estate planning seminars

862: Solicitation letter

926: Lawyer referral services

1003: Attorney—Relationship with financial advisor

1290: Nonlawyer employee: Use of for soliciting prospective clients

1348: Advertising and solicitation—Lawyer referral service: Propriety of nonlawyer screening calls and referring potential claims for attorney members

1380: Fees—Law firms—Aiding unauthorized practice of law—Splitting fees with nonlawyer: Arrangement between multi-jurisdictional offices of law firm

1543: Advertising—Recommendation of professional employment: Attorney paying “referral” service for “exclusive rights” to all prospective clients in four counties

1600: Aiding unauthorized practice of law—Nonlawyer personnel—Misconduct: Level of direct supervision of nonlawyer personnel required

1689: Attorney participation in referral service (legal-friend) that offers legal referrals to members at discount

1743: Virginia law firm forming partnership with a foreign legal consultant (FLC) when the FLC is a nonlawyer under the unauthorized practice rules and is not licensed in the U.S.

Updated: August 23, 2018