Admission to the Bar - Preparation and Resources: Virginia

Virginia Board of Bar Examiners
2201 W. Broad Street, Suite 101
Richmond, VA 23220-2022
TEL: 804-367-0412
FAX: 804-367-0416
barexam.virginia.gov

The Character and Fitness portion of the admissions process requires completion of the Character and Fitness Questionnaire (CFQ) issued by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners.  All questions must be answered truthfully and candidly, and the applicant bears a continuing duty to update the CFQ with relevant information during the review period.

Should the Board decline to certify an applicant as possessing the requisite character to practice in the Commonwealth, the applicant has the right to appeal the determination.

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, an agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia, oversees the process by which applicants are admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth.  Applicants may seek admission with or without examination.

Admission with examination requires the following:

• Completed Bar Application, including payment of $375 fee
• Completed Character & Fitness Questionnaire, including payment of $425 fee
• Graduation from an ABA-approved law school prior to sitting for the exam, or qualification as a "law reader".
• Passage of Character & Fitness review
• Scaled score of 85 or higher on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
• Passage of the Virginia Bar Examination

Admission without examination is available to applicants who:

• have been admitted to the bar of a sister state for at least five years
• have been admitted to the bar of a reciprocal jurisdiction, AND
• have been engaged in the full-time practice of law for three of the last five years.

The filing requirements for admission without examination are:

• Completed Application for Admission without Examination
• Completed Character & Fitness Questionnaire and NCBE or equivalent record as necessary
• Payment of $2,200.00 fee
• Certificate of Good Standing from Other Jurisdiction
• Completion of 12 hours of Virginia Continuing Legal Education credits within the prior six months
• Certification that Applicant has read and is familiar with the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct

For additional information about the application process, see the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners web page.

The Virginia Bar Exam is administered for two days beginning on the Tuesday immediately preceding the last Wednesday of each July and February.  The Tuesday session consists of the Virginia-specific portion of the test, while the Wednesday session is the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).

The location is somewhat variable.  The July examination is conducted in Roanoke, while the February is conducted in either Richmond or Norfolk.

The Virginia-specific portion of the test consists of both essays and short-answer questions, and will test the following areas:

• Agency
• Conflict of Laws
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts
• Business Organizations
• Creditor's Rights
• Criminal Law
• Domestic Relations
• Equity
• Evidence
• Federal Practice and Procedure
• Local Government Law
• Professional Responsibility
• Real and Personal Property
• Sales
• Taxation
• Torts
• Trusts
• Uniform Commercial Code
• Virginia Civil and Criminal Procedure (including appellate practice)
• Wills and Estate Administration

Passing the Bar – Making the Leap (site last updated 2009)