Virginia Legal Aid Counsel

Rule 1A:9 Virginia Legal Aid Counsel.

Introduction

Any person employed in Virginia as a lawyer exclusively for a Virginia Legal Aid Society, for the purpose of providing free and reduced fee legal services, must either (i) be a regularly admitted active member of the Virginia State Bar; or (ii) be issued a Legal Aid Counsel Certificate as provided in this Rule. For purposes of this rule, "Legal Aid Employer" is a Virginia Licensed Legal Aid Society.

The Virginia Legal Aid Counsel filing fee is $600. This fee covers the cost of processing the Application, investigating matters contained in the applicant's completed Character & Fitness Questionnaire, and preparing of the Character Report.

The fee is non-refundable and must be in the form of a Money Order, Cashier's Check, or Certified Check made payable to the "Virginia Board of Bar Examiners."

Click here to access the Virginia Legal Aid Counsel application.

Application Processing

Processing your Virginia Legal Aid Counsel application may take six (6) months from the date your complete application package is received by our office. Please remember that these applications are handled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Incomplete applications will not be processed until all required documents are received.