Code of Virginia - Title 54.1 Professions And Occupations - Chapter 39 Attorneys

54.1-3900 Practice of law; student internship program; definition
Persons who hold a license or certificate to practice law under the laws of this Commonwealth and have paid the license tax prescribed by law ...

54.1-3900.01 Protection of client interests; appointment of receiver for practice of a disabled, impaired, absen...
A. Upon a showing that an attorney is unable to properly discharge responsibilities to clients by reason of the attorney's disability, impairment, absence or death ...

54.1-3901 Practice of patent law
A. For the purposes of this section "an attorney recognized to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in patent cases" is defined ...

54.1-3902 Professional corporations; professional limited liability companies; and registered limited liabili...
A. No professional corporation organized or qualifying under the provisions of Chapter 7 (§ 13.1-542 et seq.) of Title 13.1, professional limited liability company organized ...

54.1-3903 Oath; qualification; proof of licensure or authorization
Before an attorney may practice in any court in the Commonwealth, he shall take the oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth, stating that he will ...

54.1-3904 Penalty for practicing without authority
Any person who practices law without being authorized or licensed shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. A collection agency may refer debts to ...

54.1-3905 Furnishing advice and services for compensation in connection with certain debt-pooling plans deeme...
The furnishing of advice or services for compensation to a debtor in connection with a debt-pooling plan pursuant to which the debtor deposits funds for ...

54.1-3906 Liability to client
Every attorney shall be liable to his client for any damage sustained by the client through the neglect of his duty as such attorney. Damages ...

54.1-3907 Reasonable care of attorney in selection of index
Any attorney who in the examination of records in the office of the clerk of any court in this Commonwealth relies upon the correctness of ...

54.1-3908 Liability for words used in proceedings concerning conduct
No person shall be held liable in any civil action for words written or spoken in any complaint regarding, proceeding concerning, or investigation of, the ...

54.1-3909 Rules and regulations defining practice of law and prescribing procedures for practice of law by la...
The Supreme Court may promulgate rules and regulations: Defining the practice of law. Prescribing procedures for the limited practice of law by third-year law students. ...

54.1-3910 Organization and government of Virginia State Bar
The Supreme Court may promulgate rules and regulations organizing and governing the Virginia State Bar. The Virginia State Bar shall act as an administrative agency ...

54.1-3910.1 Enforcement, etc., of costs
Orders of the Disciplinary Board regarding unpaid costs assessed by the Clerk of the Disciplinary System pursuant to Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 13 of ...

54.1-3911 Transmission of certain information to House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice
The Virginia State Bar is authorized to transmit to the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice, upon request of the chairman of either ...

54.1-3912 Fees
The Supreme Court may promulgate rules and regulations fixing a schedule of fees to be paid by members of the Virginia State Bar for the ...

54.1-3913 State Bar Fund; receipts; disbursements
The State Bar Fund is continued as a special fund in the state treasury. All fees collected from the members of the Virginia State Bar ...

54.1-3913.1 (Effective until July 1, 2015) Clients' Protection Fund
The Clients' Protection Fund is continued as a special fund of the Virginia State Bar. The Fund shall consist of moneys transferred to it from ...

54.1-3914 Forfeiture of license for failing to pay fees; restoration of license
Any attorney licensed to practice in this Commonwealth who fails for two successive years to pay the annual fees provided for by § 54.1-3912, shall ...

54.1-3915 Restrictions as to rules and regulations
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article, the Supreme Court shall not promulgate rules or regulations prescribing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct ...

54.1-3915.1 Rules regarding client accounts
The Supreme Court shall not promulgate any disciplinary rules, rule or regulation requiring that attorneys or law firms deposit client funds in interest-bearing accounts, pooled ...

54.1-3916 Legal aid societies
A. The Virginia State Bar through its governing body is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the function and operation of legal aid societies ...

54.1-3917 Master retirement program
The Virginia State Bar through its governing body is authorized to approve and be a party to a master retirement program for the benefit of ...

54.1-3917.1 Group or individual insurance policies
The Virginia State Bar, through its governing body, is authorized to endorse insurance coverages or to be a holder of group or individual insurance policies ...

54.1-3918 Availability of Virginia State Bar membership list
When requested, copies of the Virginia State Bar membership address list shall be made available to Virginia professional legal organizations which operate not for profit ...

54.1-3919 Composition of Board; quorum
The Board of Bar Examiners shall be responsible for the examination of applicants and otherwise ascertaining the qualifications of applicants for admission to the bar ...

54.1-3920 Appointment and terms of members
The members of the Board shall be appointed by the Supreme Court for five-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled by the Court for the full ...

54.1-3921 Board to elect one of its members president; appointment of secretary and treasurer
The Board shall elect one of its members to serve as its president, and may appoint a qualified member of the Virginia State Bar to ...

54.1-3922 Powers, rules and regulations
The Board shall do, or cause to be done, all things it considers necessary, convenient or expedient in connection with the preparation, conduct and grading ...

54.1-3923 Compensation of members, secretary, treasurer and character and fitness committee; expenses of exam...
The members of the Board and members of any character and fitness committee shall each receive such compensation as established by the Rules of the ...

54.1-3924 Fees paid by applicants
In order to defray the compensation, mileage and expenses above provided for, the Board shall fix by general rule or special order the fees to ...

54.1-3925 Application for examination
A person desiring to take an examination under this article shall file with the Board his application therefor in such form as the Board may ...

54.1-3925.1 Proof of character and fitness required of applicant; character and fitness committee; fee...
A. Before issuing to any applicant a license or certificate to practice law in Virginia, the Board shall have found from satisfactory evidence produced by ...

54.1-3925.2 Access to criminal history records
The Board is authorized to obtain criminal history record information relating to an applicant from any state or federal law-enforcement agency. Any information so obtained ...

54.1-3925.3 Authority for subpoenas; qualified privilege and immunity
A. In the conduct of investigations and hearings, the Board and character and fitness committee may administer oaths and affirmations and may issue subpoenas for ...

54.1-3926 Preliminary proof of education required of applicant
Before an applicant will be permitted to take any examination under this article the applicant shall furnish to the Board satisfactory evidence that he has: ...

54.1-3927 Time and place of examination
The Board shall hold at least two examinations each year, at such times as it may prescribe by general rule or special order. If only ...

54.1-3928 Issuance of license or certificate; list of persons certified to Supreme Court
The Board shall issue a license to practice law in this Commonwealth to every applicant who successfully passes the examination on all the subjects required ...

54.1-3929 Preservation of examination papers
The essay portion of the examination papers shall be kept on file in the office of the secretary and treasurer in Richmond for one year ...

54.1-3930 Reexaminations
Any applicant who fails an examination given after July 15, 1960, may be reexamined not more than four additional times upon showing to the Board ...

54.1-3931 Granting certificates without examination; law professors
The Supreme Court shall have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any attorney who has been admitted to practice law before the court ...

54.1-3932 Lien for fees
A. Any person having or claiming a right of action sounding in tort, or for liquidated or unliquidated damages on contract or for a cause ...

54.1-3933 Decreeing fee out of funds under control of court
No court shall decree or order any fee or compensation to counsel to be paid out of money or property under the control of the ...

54.1-3934 Revocation of license by Board
The Board of Bar Examiners may, for good cause, revoke any license issued by it at any time before there has been a qualification under ...

54.1-3935 Procedure for revocation of license
A. If the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any circuit court of this Commonwealth observes, or if a complaint, verified by affidavit is ...

54.1-3936 Protection of client interests in proceedings pending disciplinary action
A. If Bar Counsel has reasonable cause to believe that an attorney is engaging in any activity which is unlawful or violates the Virginia Rules ...

54.1-3937 Procedure for revocation of certificate of registration of professional law corporations or profess...
A. If the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any circuit court of this Commonwealth observes, or if a complaint, verified by affidavit, is ...

54.1-3938 Service of process in license revocation proceedings
If personal service of process cannot be had upon the defendant in license revocation proceedings, proceedings may be had by order of publication on proper ...

54.1-3938.1 Subpoena issued pursuant to law of another jurisdiction
Whenever a subpoena is sought in this Commonwealth pursuant to the laws of another jurisdiction for use in lawyer discipline or disability proceedings, and where ...

54.1-3939 Definitions
As used in this article: "Agent" means any person who acts for another with or without compensation at the request, or with the knowledge and ...

54.1-3940 Solicitation
It shall be unlawful for an attorney to solicit professional employment in a manner that violates the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility. (1964, c. 622, ...

54.1-3941 Unlawful to act as runners or cappers
It shall be unlawful for any person to act singly or in concert with others as a runner or capper for an attorney. (Code 1950, ...

54.1-3942 Validity of contract
Any contract for professional employment secured by an attorney in violation of this article shall be void and unenforceable. (Code 1950, § 54-83; 1964, c. ...

54.1-3943 Injunction against running, capping and soliciting
The attorney for the Commonwealth, or any person, firm or corporation against whom any cause of action is or has been asserted, may maintain a ...

54.1-3944 Penalty for violation
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. In addition, any person employed as an officer, director, ...