Virginia State Bar

In the State of Virginia, many people are injured because of the negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct of an individual or company. These people have the opportunity to file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of a lawyer in their state. Unfortunately, not all people that call themselves lawyers are reputable or able to properly launch a lawsuit. Membership in the Virginia State Bar is the reassurance needed to insure that an individual is qualified to present a court case in front of Virginia courts.
The Virginia State Bar (VSB) is an organization that represents members of the legal profession. The mission of the Virginia State Bar is to regulate the legal profession of Virginia, to advance the availability and quality of legal services provided to the people of Virginia, and to assist in improving the legal profession and the judicial system. The bar sponsors many programs designed to fulfill this mission.
The Virginia State Bar was created in 1938 by the General Assembly as an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia. The creation of the agency unified Virginia’s lawyers in a mandatory State Bar. Today a Council and Executive Committee govern the VSB. The members of these governing bodies are elected or appointed from every judicial circuit in Virginia. All lawyers in the state of Virginia are required to be members of the Virginia State Bar.
Admission into the Virginia Bar is stringent. Every potential lawyer must complete a series of rigorous tests to prove that they are competent to practice law in the state of Virginia. This admissions process includes a passing score on the state bar exam, completing a minimum requirement of legal education (usually seven years beyond high school), and proving that an applicant has the professional aptitude to practice law. The process ensures that professionals that are admitted into the bar are reputable and competent in order to best serve the citizens of Virginia.