Instructions below will assist you in preparing the Virginia Legal Aid Counsel Application. Please read them carefully before you begin the application process.

Carefully read the Supreme Court of Virginia Rule 1A:9 before going on to Step 2.

Required Evidence - to be eligible for a Virginia Legal Aid Counsel you must submit satisfactory evidence to meet ALL requirements of 1A:9(b).

Click here for sample Virginia Legal Aid Counsel and Character & Fitness Questionnaire forms.

Certain items are required to be attached to your Virginia Legal Aid Counsel Application and Character & Fitness Questionnaire. The Board currently conducts it's own character and fitness investigation. Before you begin completing the application or questionnaire, request the documents you are required to submit. Many items are required for all applications, although some items noted are only required depending upon your responses to certain questions. Requesting the items in advance will ensure you can submit a COMPLETE Application and/or Character & Fitness Questionnaire.

Additionally, your responses to certain questions may indicate that other documents, not listed below, are required.

The following items are required with EVERY Virginia Legal Aid Counsel Application. Click the link below for further information regarding each requirement.

• Full Legal Name
• NCBE Number
• Credit Report
• DMV Record(s)
• Birth Certificate, Naturalization or Immigration documentation
• Law School Transcript
• Complete and Accurate Addresses for your prior Residences, Schools, Employers
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Complete and Accurate Addresses

It is VERY important for you to obtain COMPLETE and ACCURATE addresses, including ZIP Codes, for:

• Prior Residences
• Schools
• Employers




If an employer has moved since your employment, provide such employer's current mailing address. You should indicate this is not the address where you worked, but the employer's current mailing address.

If an employer is no longer in business, provide a verifying reference who can verify your dates and status of employment, such as a manager, supervisor, etc.

If you provide incorrect or inadequate information, your Character & Fitness Investigation will be delayed. Such delay could prevent the completion of your Character & Fitness investigation in time for you to attend the group admission ceremony if you pass the bar exam.

• Certificates of Good Standing - for all jurisdictions where you are/have ever been licensed to practice law (Electronically generated forms accepted)
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Certificates of Good Standing

Certificates of Good Standing must come from the Court of Last Resort; (i.e., Supreme Court, Court of Appeals - NOT State Bar) for each jurisdiction in which you are/have ever been licensed. The certificate must be an original document dated/issued within 90 days of receipt of your application.

If you are on inactive status, your certificate may come from the State Bar of such jurisdiction. Such State Bar certificate must include a statement that you voluntarily chose to go inactive, that you were in good standing at the time you went inactive, and that there are or were no disciplinary issues which led to your inactive status.

For any jurisdictions where you are pending, you must submit a Certificate of Good Standing upon admission or a statement issued 30-days post exam, updating the status of your application and character & fitness.

To request a Certificate of Good Standing, a contact list is available on the American Bar Association website. Click here to access the contact list.

• Certificates of Discipline - for all jurisdictions where you are/have ever been licensed to practice law (Electronically generated forms accepted)
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Certificates of Discipline

Certificates of Discipline are required for each jurisdiction* where you have ever held a license to practice law. The certificate must be an original document dated/issued within 90 days of receipt of your application.

If you are on inactive status, your certificate must include a statement that you voluntarily chose to go inactive, that you were in good standing at the time you went inactive, and that there are or were no disciplinary issues which led to your inactive status.

If you have any pending disciplinary issues, your application will not be processed and your fees are non-refundable.

*PLEASE NOTE: Even if you have never had any disciplinary issues, you MUST submit a Certificate of Discipline from each jurisdiction you have ever held a license.

To request a Certificate of Discipline, a contact list is available on the American Bar Association website. Click here to access the contact list.

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Law School Transcript

Official Transcript from ABA approved law school with Signature and Law School Seal.

• Resume of your past practice of law
• Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct Affidavit (Included with VBBE Online Forms)
• Affidavit of Employer (Included with VBBE Online Forms)
• Fees (Money Order, Cashier's Check, or Certified Check. NO personal or company checks.) One or multiple check(s) are acceptable. Checks must be made payable to "Virginia Board of Bar Examiners." 
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Fees

Forms	Fee
Application for Virginia Virginia Legal Aid Counsel Cerrtificate and your Character & Fitness Questionnaire.	$600

The following items may be required depending upon your response to certain questions.

• Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree or Name Change Order for verification of current legal name
• DD214 - Military Report of Separation documents
• Court Records for all Felony Charges
• Court Orders in regard to past due debts, creditors, tax liens, judgments
• Bankruptcy Petitions
• Defaulted student loan documentation
• Character & Fitness Healthcare Form, completed by Licensed Healthcare Professional (part of the online forms)
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Character & Fitness Healthcare Form

The Character & Fitness Healthcare Form addresses recent mental health and chemical or psychological dependency matters. The purpose of such inquiries is to determine the current fitness of an applicant to practice law.

The Board does not, by its questions, seek information that is fairly characterized as situational counseling. Examples of situational counseling include stress counseling, domestic counseling, grief counseling, and counseling for eating or sleeping disorders. Generally, the Board does not view these types of counseling as germane to the issue of whether an applicant is qualified to practice law.

If any of the following inquiries is applicable to you, the Character & Fitness Healthcare Form must be completed by your Licensed Healthcare Professional(s).

• Within the past five (5) years, have you sought or been directed to seek treatment for your conduct or behavior that could call into question your ability to practice law in a competent, ethical, and professional manner?
• Do you currently have any condition or impairment, including, but not limited to, (1) any related to substance or alcohol abuse, or (2) a mental, emotional, or nervous disorder or condition, which in any way affects your ability to perform any of the obligations and responsibilities of a practicing lawyer in a competent, ethical and professional manner? "Currently" means recently enough so that the condition could reasonably have an impact on your ability to function as a practicing lawyer.




Click here to download the Character & Fitness Healthcare Form.

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners has attempted to make our online forms as user friendly as possible. Please take a few minutes to read ALL instructions provided for ease of completing the forms.

Overview of Application Process and Steps:

Definitions for Application Process:

• VBBE Online Form Workspace: Your Workspace is where you start/edit an application and view the draft and final PDFs.
• VBBE Online Form User Portal: Your User Portal is where you begin a New Transaction (online form) or edit an existing Transaction.
• Follow the instructions provided on your Workspace and/or User Portal pages to assist you with accessing and completing the forms.
• Begin Application: Starts the VBBE Online Forms Interview. Your responses to certain questions will determine which forms you must complete.
• Edit My Answers: Returns you to the VBBE Online Forms Interview to continue working on or edit your previous answers.
• Documents: Every time you click Save and Exit, you will return to your Workspace. A PDF of your application is created each time you click Save and Exit. To view and print the draft or final PDF, click the PDF icon. You MUST disable popup blockers before viewing the PDF.

New User Registration:

• Register: Click “Register Now" to create an account.
• Log In: Enter your User ID and Password to log in. When you log in, you will enter your VBBE Online Form Workspace.
• VBBE Online Workspace: Follow the instructions provided to assist you with accessing and completing the forms.

Previously Registered User:

• Log In: Enter your User ID and Password to log in. When you log in, you will enter either your VBBE Online Form Workspace or your VBBE Online User Portal.
• For VBBE Online Workspace: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the close button. Then click “New Transaction” to start a new form. Follow the instructions provided to assist you with accessing and completing the forms.
• For VBBE Online User Portal: Select a Form In Progress by clicking the form Name (Your Name with Start Date) or click "New Transaction" to start a new form. Follow the instructions provided to assist you with accessing and completing the forms.

Review and Print:

• Draft Review: You must review the draft PDF before certifying your application for submission.
• Certify: By typing certify, you are confirming you have reviewed the draft PDF of your application and all answers are true and correct.
• Submit: No changes can be made after you select Submit. Once you submit your application, a final PDF will be available to download and print.
• Final PDF: You MUST send a paper copy of all forms to the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. Online submission of the forms does NOT constitute a filed application.
• Print: Print single-sided only.
• Checklist: A detailed Checklist will print with your application forms. Follow all instructions on the Checklist to ensure you are submitting a complete application.
• For your records, make a photocopy of all forms and documents submitted to the VBBE.

To Access the VBBE Online Forms: Click here.

Utilize the Checklist as noted above to confirm that you have completed and included each REQUIRED document. Your application will not be considered complete until all required documents have been received.

Office of the Secretary
Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
2201 W. Broad Street
Suite 101
Richmond, VA 23220

Due to confidentiality limitations, the Board will not confirm receipt of an application over the phone. To ensure we have received your application, send it using a delivery method that you can track or include with your application forms a self-addressed stamped envelope or postcard which we will return to you date-stamped with the date we received your application.

Should you need to amend or change any answer on your Virginia Legal Aid Counsel Application or Character & Fitness Questionnaire, an Amendment to an Application form is required.

To update your address or email, use the Change of Address form.