Va. R. Sup. Ct. 10

As amended through April 19, 2024

Rule 10 - Promulgation of Legal Ethics, Lawyer Advertising, Solicitation and Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinions and Rules of Court

10-1.DEFINITIONS

As used in this Paragraph, the following terms shall have the meaning herein stated unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Advisory Opinion" means a written statement of the subject involved, the question presented, the Rule of Court or other precedents relied upon, the opinion reached, and the reasons therefore.

"Bar" means the Virginia State Bar.

"Committee" means the Standing Committee on Legal Ethics.

"Council" means the Council of the Virginia State Bar.

"Court" means the Supreme Court of Virginia.

"Ethics Counsel" means the Ethics Counsel or an assistant ethics counsel of the Virginia State Bar.

"Member" means any active member of the Virginia State Bar or a Foreign Lawyer as defined under Rule 5.5(d)(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

"Notice" means publishing in the Virginia Lawyer Register and at a minimum posting on the Virginia State Bar's website for at least 30 calendar days.

"Rule" means any proposed new Rule of Court or any modification, amendment, or proposed repeal of any existing Rule of Court promulgated by the Standing Committee on Legal Ethics.

10-2. ADVISORY OPINIONS OR RULES.

A.Request for Advisory Opinion. Any Member may request a legal ethics opinion or unauthorized practice of law opinion. The request shall be submitted as a hypothetical on a form approved by the Committee. A request for an Advisory Opinion will be reviewed by Ethics Counsel and forwarded to the Committee for consideration. In its discretion, the Committee may decline to render an Advisory Opinion regarding a previously resolved issue, or any matter that is currently the subject of any disciplinary proceeding or litigation.

B.Rules. The Committee may propose a new Rule or propose amendments, modifications, or repeal of existing Rules at its discretion. For rule changes that declare conduct as the unauthorized practice of law, the Bar shall seek comment from the Attorney General's office analyzing any restraint on competition that might result from the adoption of the proposed change.

C.Notice and Comments. The Committee shall provide Notice and opportunity for public comment on proposed Advisory Opinions or proposed Rules. Public comments shall be directed to the Executive Director of the Virginia State Bar. For proposed Advisory Opinions, the Committee will consider any comments received and either adopt, modify or withdraw the opinion as an Advisory Opinion. If the Advisory Opinion is adopted or modified, the Committee shall ask for Council review in accordance with section 10-3.A dvisory Opinions express the judgment of the Committee and are not binding on any judicial or administrative tribunal. In the case of a Rule, the Committee will consider any comments received and then submit the Rule to Council for consideration in accordance with section 10-3.

D.Unauthorized Practice of Law Advisory Opinions. An unauthorized practice of law Advisory Opinion in which the Committee concludes that the conduct in question constitutes or would constitute the unauthorized practice of law shall be sent to Council in accordance with section 10-3.F or these Advisory Opinions, the Bar shall seek comment from the Attorney General's office analyzing any restraint on competition that might result from the promulgation and implementation of the opinion.

E.Confidentiality. All Committee deliberations, memoranda, correspondence, and work product shall be confidential and privileged from discovery or subpoena and will not be provided to anyone absent a court order.

10-3. ADVISORY OPINION OR RULE CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL.

A. Review. After considering all materials and written comments, Council may approve, modify, or disapprove any Advisory Opinion or Rule by a majority vote of those present and voting. If Council approves or modifies an Advisory Opinion or Rule, it shall be sent to the Court for review along with copies of all public comments.

B.Unauthorized Practice of Law Advisory Opinions. If Council concurs by a majority vote of those present and voting that the proposed conduct in any unauthorized practice of law Advisory Opinion constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, the Advisory Opinion shall be sent to the Court for review along with copies of all public comments.

10-4. ADVISORY OPINION OR RULE REVIEW BY THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA.

A.Review. After considering all materials submitted to it, the Court shall approve, modify, or disapprove any Advisory Opinion or Rule.

10-5. INFORMAL STAFF OPINIONS OF ETHICS COUNSEL.

A.Informal Advice. At the request of a Member, Ethics Counsel shall provide informal advice or opinion based on the facts provided.

B.Protection. Ethics Counsel shall not be compelled to testify, via subpoena or otherwise, in any judicial or adjudicative proceeding, except on behalf of a respondent in disciplinary proceedings of the Virginia State Bar, regarding any advice or opinion provided to that attorney. Except as stated herein, Ethics Counsel shall not be subject to subpoena or otherwise compelled to testify or to produce any documents in any judicial or adjudicative proceeding or to testify as an expert witness regarding legal ethics or the practice of law. In a disciplinary proceeding, testimony of Ethics Counsel shall be limited to the substance of any communications by and between Ethics and the Member, where such communications are an issue in the proceeding.

C.Confidentiality. All communications between Ethics Counsel and any Member requesting advice or opinion shall be confidential. Ethics Counsel shall not disclose the content of any such discussion without the express written consent of the Member to whom Ethics Counsel provided such advice or opinion. No Member shall withhold consent if the Member is claiming, in the course of a disciplinary investigation or hearing, that the Member relied on the advice of Ethics Counsel.

D.Use of Informal Advice in Collateral Litigation. Informal advice of Ethics Counsel is advisory only and expresses the judgment of the Ethics Counsel and is not binding on the Court, Council, Committee or any judicial or administrative tribunal. Except as provided herein in connection with attorney disciplinary proceedings, informal advice of Ethics Counsel shall not be used, admitted, introduced, argued or cited in any litigation or before any judicial or administrative tribunal for the purpose of seeking disqualification of a lawyer or law firm.

10-6. COMPLAINTS OF UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW.

A.Review of Complaints. Ethics Counsel shall review all written complaints alleging unauthorized practice of law and either dismiss the complaint, if no violation is identified in the complaint, or open it for investigation. If the complaint is opened, Ethics Counsel shall send notice of the complaint to the Respondent, requesting a written response. After review of any response from Respondent, or if Respondent submits no response, Ethics Counsel may dismiss the complaint, recommend a disposition subject to review by the Clerk of the Disciplinary System in accordance with paragraph (E), or refer the complaint for full investigation.

B.Summons or Subpoena. If a summons or subpoena is necessary for investigation of a matter outlined in section 10-6.A., Ethics Counsel may issue such a summons or subpoena in the name of the Commonwealth. Ethics Counsel or a Virginia State Bar investigator may use a summons to examine a witness or to obtain statements from persons having knowledge about the subject of the complaint.

C.Enforcement of Summons or Subpoena. Every Circuit Court shall have power to enforce a summons or subpoena issued by Ethics Counsel pursuant to this paragraph and to adjudge disobedience thereof as contempt.

D.Review of Investigative Report and Disposition. After review of an investigative report, Ethics Counsel may dismiss the complaint or, if Ethics Counsel believes the investigation establishes probable cause that the Respondent engaged in UPL, Ethics Counsel may, after an independent review by the Clerk of the Disciplinary System:

(a) dismiss the complaint with a letter of caution;

(b) issue a letter agreement in which the Respondent agrees to cease the activity challenged as UPL; or

(c) refer the investigation to the Attorney General, a Commonwealth's Attorney, or other appropriate agency for action.

E.Review by the Clerk of the Disciplinary System. Other than decisions to dismiss a complaint for insufficient evidence or other good cause, the Clerk of the Disciplinary System, a non-lawyer, shall actively supervise and independently review all recommendations of Ethics Counsel regarding disposition of a complaint. The Clerk may veto or modify the recommendations, after undertaking an independent analysis of the recommendation. The Clerk's decisions shall be final, and not subject to review by Ethics Counsel.

Va. Sup. Ct. 10

Amended by Order February 6, 2004, effective 2/6/2004; amended by Order October 1, 2004, effective 1/1/2005; amended by order dated January 22, 2010, effective immediately; amended by order dated March 19, 2010, effective immediately; amended by order dated October 30, 2015, effective immediately; amended by order dated March 1, 2016, effective 5/1/2016; amended by order dated December 15, 2016, effective immediately.