A. No professional corporation organized or qualifying under the provisions of Chapter 7 (§ 13.1-542.1 et seq.) of Title 13.1, professional limited liability company organized or qualifying under the provisions of Chapter 13 (§ 13.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 13.1, or registered limited liability partnership registered under the provisions of Article 9.1 (§ 50-73.132 et seq.) of Chapter 2.2 of Title 50 shall render the professional services of attorneys in this Commonwealth unless the professional corporation, professional limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership is registered under this section.
B. A professional corporation organized or qualifying under the provisions of Chapter 7 (§ 13.1-542.1 et seq.) of Title 13.1, a professional limited liability company organized or qualifying under the provisions of Chapter 13 (§ 13.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 13.1, or a registered limited liability partnership registered under the provisions of Article 9.1 (§ 50-73.132 et seq.) of Chapter 2.2 of Title 50 shall be issued a professional corporation, a professional limited liability company, or a registered limited liability partnership registration certificate by the Virginia State Bar upon application and payment of a registration fee of $100, provided that:
1. Each member, manager, partner, employee, or agent of the professional corporation, the professional limited liability company, or the registered limited liability partnership who will practice law in Virginia is an active member of the Virginia State Bar, or otherwise legally authorized to practice law in Virginia, except that nothing herein shall prohibit a nonlicensed individual from serving as secretary, treasurer, office manager, or business manager of any such corporation, limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership; and
2. The name of the professional corporation, the professional limited liability company, or the registered limited liability partnership and the conduct of its practice conform with the ethical standards which the shareholders, members, managers, partners, employees, and agents are required to observe in the practice of law or patent law as defined in § 54.1-3901 in this Commonwealth and that, in the case of a corporation, the corporate name complies with subsection A of § 13.1-630; in the case of a limited liability company, the limited liability company name complies with subsection A of § 13.1-1012; and, in the case of a registered limited liability partnership, the registered limited liability partnership name complies with § 50-73.133.
C. Professional corporation, professional limited liability company, and registered limited liability partnership registration certificates shall be renewed biennially for a fee of $50.
1962, c. 389, § 54-42.1; 1968, c. 10; 1973, c. 484, § 54-42.2; 1974, c. 597; 1981, cc. 103, 516; 1982, c. 633; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 574; 1995, c. 116; 2000, c. 355; 2006, cc. 198, 230; 2022, c. 234.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 54.1 - Professions and Occupations
§ 54.1-3900. Practice of law; student internship program; definition
§ 54.1-3901. Practice of patent law
§ 54.1-3903. Oath; qualification; proof of licensure or authorization
§ 54.1-3904. Penalty for practicing without authority
§ 54.1-3906. Liability to client
§ 54.1-3907. Reasonable care of attorney in selection of index
§ 54.1-3908. Liability for words used in proceedings concerning conduct
§ 54.1-3910. Organization and government of Virginia State Bar
§ 54.1-3910.1. Enforcement, etc., of costs
§ 54.1-3913. State Bar Fund; receipts; disbursements
§ 54.1-3913.1. Clients' Protection Fund
§ 54.1-3914. Forfeiture of license for failing to pay fees; restoration of license
§ 54.1-3915. Restrictions as to rules and regulations
§ 54.1-3916. Legal aid societies
§ 54.1-3917. Master retirement program
§ 54.1-3917.1. Group or individual insurance policies
§ 54.1-3918. Availability of Virginia State Bar membership list
§ 54.1-3919. Composition of Board; quorum
§ 54.1-3920. Appointment and terms of members
§ 54.1-3921. Board to elect one of its members president; appointment of secretary and treasurer
§ 54.1-3922. Powers, rules and regulations
§ 54.1-3924. Fees paid by applicants
§ 54.1-3925. Application for examination
§ 54.1-3925.2. Access to criminal history records
§ 54.1-3925.3. Authority for subpoenas; qualified privilege and immunity
§ 54.1-3926. Preliminary proof of education required of applicant
§ 54.1-3927. Time and place of examination
§ 54.1-3928. Issuance of license or certificate; list of persons certified to Supreme Court
§ 54.1-3929. Preservation of examination papers
§ 54.1-3931. Granting certificates without examination; law professors
§ 54.1-3933. Decreeing fee out of funds under control of court
§ 54.1-3934. Revocation of license by Board
§ 54.1-3935. Procedure for disciplining attorneys by three-judge circuit court
§ 54.1-3936. Protection of client interests in proceedings pending disciplinary action
§ 54.1-3938. Service of process in license revocation proceedings
§ 54.1-3938.1. Subpoena issued pursuant to law of another jurisdiction
§ 54.1-3941. Unlawful to act as runners or cappers
§ 54.1-3942. Validity of contract
§ 54.1-3943. Injunction against running, capping and soliciting