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Virginia State Bar Organization and Government – 2026

How the Virginia State Bar is constituted and how a Virginia lawyer is disciplined — Part Six, Section IV of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, 62 paragraphs in the Section's own three divisions. Paragraphs 1 to 12 are the Bar itself: its name, membership and registration, the classes of membership, the officers, the Council and its election, meetings, the annual meeting, the powers of the Council, dues and disbursements. Paragraph 10 is subdivided into the procedure for promulgating legal ethics and unauthorized practice opinions, from the definitions through Council consideration, review by the Supreme Court of Virginia, informal staff opinions of ethics counsel, and complaints of unauthorized practice. Paragraph 13 is the disciplinary system, and the largest part of the Section: 32 subdivisions running from the definitions and the burden of proof through the authority of the courts, the Disciplinary Board and the district committees, Bar Counsel and the Clerk of the Disciplinary System, the processing of complaints, the limited right to discovery, district committee and Board proceedings in each of their forms — certification, appeal, sanction determination, a first offender plea, a guilty plea, impairment, and discipline imposed in another jurisdiction — then reinstatement, appeal from Board determinations, resignation, consent to revocation, the duties of a disbarred or suspended respondent, and the confidentiality of disciplinary records. The last division covers administrative suspension for failing to complete the professionalism course or continuing legal education, professional corporations and limited liability companies, the third year student rule, the Clients' Protection Fund, the MCLE rules, financial responsibility, trust account maintenance, pro bono reporting, and the Attorney Wellness Fund.

Browse all 62 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Paragraphs 1 – 12 Paragraph 13. Procedure for Disciplining, Suspending, and Disbarring Attorneys Paragraphs 13.1 – 23

Paragraphs 1 – 12

Paragraph 1 Name Paragraph 2 Membership and Registration Paragraph 3 Classes of Membership Paragraph 4 Officers Paragraph 5 The Council Paragraph 6 Election of Council Paragraph 7 Meetings of the Council Paragraph 8 Annual Meeting of the Virginia State Bar Paragraph 9 Powers of the Council Paragraph 10-1 Definitions Paragraph 10-2 Advisory Opinions or Rules. Paragraph 10-3 Advisory Opinion or Rule Consideration by Council. Paragraph 10-4 Advisory Opinion or Rule Review by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Paragraph 10-5 Informal Staff Opinions of Ethics Counsel. Paragraph 10-6 Complaints of Unauthorized Practice of Law. Paragraph 11 Dues Paragraph 12 Disbursements

Paragraph 13. Procedure for Disciplining, Suspending, and Disbarring Attorneys

Paragraph 13-1 Definitions Paragraph 13-1.1 Burden of Proof Paragraph 13-2 Authority of the Courts Paragraph 13-3 General Administrative Authority of Council Paragraph 13-4 Establishment of District Committees Paragraph 13-5 Authority and Duties of COLD Paragraph 13-6 Disciplinary Board Paragraph 13-7 District Committees Paragraph 13-8 Bar Counsel Paragraph 13-9 Clerk of the Disciplinary System Paragraph 13-10 Processing of Complaints by Bar Counsel Paragraph 13-11 Limited Right to Discovery Paragraph 13-12 Substantial Compliance, Notice and Evidentiary Rulings, and Address Notification Paragraph 13-13 Participation and Disqualification of Counsel Paragraph 13-14 Disqualification of District Committee Member or Board Member Paragraph 13-15 Subcommittee Action Paragraph 13-16 District Committee Proceedings Paragraph 13-17 Perfecting an Appeal of a District Committee Determination by the Respondent Paragraph 13-18 Board Proceedings Upon Certification Paragraph 13-19 Board Proceedings Upon Appeal Paragraph 13-20 Board Proceedings Upon Certification for Sanction Determination Paragraph 13-21 Board Proceedings Upon a First Offender Plea Paragraph 13-22 Board Proceedings Upon a Guilty Plea or an Adjudication of a Crime Paragraph 13-23 Board Proceedings Upon Impairment Paragraph 13-24 Board Proceedings Upon Disbarment, Revocation or Suspension in Another Jurisdiction Paragraph 13-25 Proceedings for Reinstatement Paragraph 13-26 Appeal from Board Determinations Paragraph 13-27 Resignation Paragraph 13-28 Consent to Revocation Paragraph 13-29 Duties of Disbarred or Suspended Respondent Paragraph 13-30 Confidentiality of Disciplinary Records and Proceedings Paragraph 13-31 Dismissal of Complaints and Allegations of Misconduct Upon Revocation Without Consent, or Upon Death

Paragraphs 13.1 – 23

Paragraph 13.1 Suspension for Failure to Complete Professionalism Course Paragraph 13.2 Suspension for Failure to Complete Continuing Legal Education Requirement Paragraph 13.4 Insurance Coverage Requirement for Respondents Under Va. Code § 54.1-3935(D) Paragraph 14 Professional Corporations, Professional Limited Liability Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships (Limited Liability Entities). Paragraph 15 Third Year Student Rule Paragraph 16 Clients' Protection Fund Paragraph 17 Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rules Paragraph 18 Financial Responsibility Paragraph 19 Procedure for the Administrative Suspension of a Member Paragraph 20 Maintenance of Trust Accounts Notice of Election Requirements Paragraph 21 Computerized Legal Research Service Rule Paragraph 22 Voluntary Pro Bono Publico Legal Services Reporting Paragraph 23 Attorney Wellness Fund