A. Before issuing to any applicant a license or certificate to practice law in Virginia, the Board shall have found from satisfactory evidence produced by the applicant in such form as the Board may require that the applicant is a person of honest demeanor and good moral character, is over the age of eighteen and possesses the requisite fitness to perform the obligations and responsibilities of a practicing attorney at law.
B. In making such determinations, the Board shall conduct such further inquiries, interviews and hearings as the Board may deem necessary. At the request of the Board, the Supreme Court may appoint a separate character and fitness committee, some of the members of which may be persons who are not licensed attorneys, to assist in reviewing character and fitness evidence and to make recommendations to the Board based upon standards adopted by the Board; however, no applicant shall be denied a license on character and fitness reasons except by action of a majority of the Board, after notice to the applicant and an opportunity for the applicant to be heard before the Board.
C. The Board shall from time to time set character and fitness application fees sufficient to cover the costs of the character and fitness process.
1992, c. 734; 1998, c. 796.
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