Rule 1A of the Supreme Court of Virginia Rules govern admission to the Virginia Bar for attorneys licensed in other jurisdictions. The process in Virginia is called Admission Without Examination. Attorneys must be admitted in a reciprocal jurisdiction for at least five years and must have actively practiced law for the past three years.
Reciprocity
The Admission Without Examination procedure in Virginia is based on bar reciprocity. Virginia attorneys must be allowed admission without examination in the transferring jurisdiction.
| Attorneys from these states may be Admitted on Motion in Virginia | |
| Attorneys from these states cannot be Admitted on Motion in Virginia |
Reciprocal Jurisdictions
Virginia finally published its reciprocity list on its website.
Additional Requirements
Virginia’s additional reciprocity requirements include:
Law Degree. A first professional law degree from an ABA accredited law school at the time of graduation.
Character and Fitness. Attorneys must meet the applicable character and fitness standards.
Good Standing and Prior Bar Exam. Attorneys must be admitted and in good standing with the bar of a reciprocal jurisdiction. Attorneys cannot have failed two or more bar exams in any state, including Virginia, and cannot have failed any bar exam within five years immediately preceding the application for admission.
Practice of Law. Attorneys must have been engaged in the active practice of law for at least three of the past five years immediately preceding application for admission. Active practice of law” includes:
- Private practice (sole practitioner or for a law firm, legal services office, legal clinic, or similar entity)
- Judges
- Government Attorneys (local, state, or federal) (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting legal documents and pleadings, interpreting and giving advice regarding the law, and preparing, trying, or presenting cases before courts or administrative agencies)
- Judicial Clerks (state of federal court)
- Corporate Counsel, Partnership, Trust, Individual, Other Entity (primary duties of furnishing legal counsel, drafting legal documents and pleadings, interpreting and giving advice regarding the law, and preparing, trying, or presenting cases before courts or administrative agencies)
- Not specifically enumerated: Law Professors
- Does not include: Practice from an office located in a foreign country
MPRE. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is not required.
Virginia Bar Reciprocity Application Procedure
Attorneys eligible for Admission Without Examination in Virginia must complete the Admission on Motion Application and supplemental forms. Applications may take up to six months to process.