The state of Virginia has more than 29,000 lawyers. Virginia is the only state with both a mandatory state bar association, the Virginia State Bar, and a voluntary state bar association, the Virginia Bar Association.
Virginia is home to more than 120 local, minority, or specialty bar associations that lawyers join on a voluntary basis. The biggest specialty bar associations in Virginia include the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
At Lawyer Legion, we understand the important role that these legal organizations play in helping the public find an attorney in Virginia.
Virginia State Bar
Created in 1938, the Virginia State Bar (VSB) was an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia, unifying Virginia lawyers into a mandatory state bar. The VSB is governed by its Council and Executive Committee. The mission of the Virginia State Bar is to protect the public, regulate the legal profession of Virginia, and improve the legal profession and the judicial system.
The VSB receives no tax dollars, but is instead supported by annual lawyer license fees, self-generated income, and volunteer service. The main purpose of the VSB is to enforce the rules and regulations that govern lawyer ethical behavior and the unauthorized practice of law and disciplines lawyers who violate the rules. The VSB also regulates attorneys’ completion of mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE).
The VSB is separate from the the Virginia Bar Association, which is an independent nonprofit that lawyers join voluntarily. The job of initially licensing attorneys to practice law in Virginia is accomplished by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. The Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission handles complaints about judges.
Contact Information
Virginia State Bar1111 East Main Street, Suite 700 Richmond, VA 23219-3565 804-775-0500
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is the largest voluntary legal organization in Virginia. At last count, its more than 5,500 members serve the public and the profession by working statewide to improve the law and administration of justice while advancing collegiality among peers. Founded in 1888, the VBA is committed to promoting the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and excellence in the legal profession.
The VACDL in Richmond, VA, can trace its roots back to 1992. It was originally called the Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys. In 2002, it changed its name to the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The VACDL is affiliated with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).
Established in Williamsburg in 1959, the VTLA enhances the knowledge, skills and professionalism of trial lawyers. With approximately 2,000 members across the Commonwealth, the VTLA is committed to improving the law and the fairness of Virginia’s civil and criminal system of justice.
Other Nonprofit Legal Assistance Organizations in Virginia
Statewide speciality bar associations include:
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Virginia
Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Beach Bar Association
Virginia Creditors Bar Association
Virginia Real Estate Attorneys League
Virginia State Bar
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
The bar associations in Virginia include:
Alexandria Bar Association
Arlington County Bar Association
Asian Pacific-American Bar Association of Virginia
Augusta County Bar Association
Bar Association of Richmond
Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association
Chesterfield County Bar Association
Fairfax Bar Association
Fauquier County Bar Association
Federal Bar - Northern Virginia Chapter
Federal Bar - Richmond Chapter
Federal Bar - Roanoke Chapter
Federal Bar - Tidewater Chapter
Fredericksburg Area Bar Association
Greater Peninsula Womens' Bar Association
Greater Richmond Intellectual Property Law Association
Hampton Bar Association
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association
Henrico County Bar Association
Hill Tucker Bar Association
Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia
Local Government Attorneys of Virginia
Loudon County Bar Association
Lynchburg Bar Association
McLean Bar Association
Metropolitan Richmond Womens' Bar Association
Newport News Bar Association
Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association
Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association
Old Dominion Bar Association
Peninsula Bar Association
Prince William County Bar Association
Roanoke Bar Association
Salem-Roanoke County Bar Association
Smyth County Bar Association South Hampton Roads Bar Association
Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association
Virginia Women Attorneys Association
Warren County Bar
Winchester-Frederick County Bar Association
Other non-profit organizations provide legal assistance to individuals in Virginia include:
ACLU of Virginia
Virginia Lawyers for the Arts
Blue Ridge Legal Services
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Justice Center
Legal Services of Northern Virginia
Potomac Legal Aid Society
Rappahannock Legal Services
Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society
Virginia Legal Aid Society
Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts
Additional Resources
Virginia Attorney Records Search - Visit the website of the Virginia State Bar to search for information about attorneys licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. You can conduct a search for disciplined attorneys to find those attorneys sanctioned for violating ethics rules; attorneys in private practice without malpractice insurance, and lawyers who are not in good standing or eligible to practice law because their licenses are suspended or revoked.
Virginia Lawyer Directory - From the Virginia State Bar website, you can find a partial list of Virginia State Bar members. The attorneys on the list include only active members who are in good standing and have chosen not to opt-out of the directory.
This article was last updated on Monday, December 23, 2019.
