News and Information
June 19, 2018
What’s Different on Your Dues Statement this Year?
Your annual bar dues statement should arrive soon, if it hasn’t already. What’s new?
- Clients’ Protection Fund assessment: Financed entirely by the legal profession, the Clients’ Protection Fund is a fund of last resort for clients who have suffered financial losses by lawyers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked due to dishonest conduct. Va. Code § 54.1-3913.1 authorizes the Supreme Court of Virginia to assess up to $25 annually per active VSB member to fund the CPF. Effective July 1, 2018, the Supreme Court of Virginia reduced the CPF assessment from $25 to $10. Also effective July 1, 2018, the statutory assessment was extended from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. At its most recent meeting on May 4, the CPF Board awarded $19,440 to former clients of four Virginia attorneys. Read more about the changes from Executive Director Karen Gould here.
- Requirements for Emeritus membership: Per Supreme Court of Virginia approval in December, retiring members of the bar have the option to go dues-free and receive free CLEs, if they agree to practice only pro bono in affiliation with a qualified legal services provider. The changes to the rules are intended to ease the transition to emeritus membership for the purpose of encouraging more pro bono legal services.
- All active members also received a letter from Chief Justice Donald Lemons about the bar's new voluntary pro bono reporting provision. Please take a moment to read it.
Please contact the membership department of the Virginia State Bar at (804) 775-0530 if you have questions about your dues statement.
Updated: Jun 22, 2018