September 2, 2025

Volunteers Sought for VSB Disciplinary Board 2026

Volunteer attorneys are needed to serve on the Virginia State Bar (VSB) Disciplinary Board beginning on July 1, 2026. The application period opens on October 1 for two attorney and one lay member volunteers on the board.

Prior VSB Disciplinary District Committee service is required (if you want to serve on a local disciplinary district committee, recruitment for those positions starts in November).

What is the Disciplinary Board?

The 20-member board, appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia, is composed of 16 attorneys and 4 lay members. The board hears the most serious cases of lawyer misconduct and issues written opinions following its hearings.

Appointed members may serve two consecutive three-year terms. An unexpired term appointment may serve two consecutive three-year terms after completing the unexpired term.

What is the application process?

Two attorney and one lay-member volunteers are needed on July 1, 2026. Interested attorneys and lay members should submit their application by COB on November 7, 2025.

The application period begins on October 1 and continues until November 7.

All applicants must:

  • Have prior Disciplinary District Committee service.
  • Include (i) statement of interest and (ii) a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV). 
  • Email your complete pdf application to [email protected], addressed to Michael M. York, Chair, VSB Nominating Committee, Virginia State Bar, 1111 E. Main Street, Suite 700, Richmond, VA 23219.
  • Please format your final submission as a pdf file.

Attorney applications must also:

  • Highlight in your statement of interest or resume your: (i) litigation experience; (ii) familiarity with Part 6, Section IV, Paragraph 13 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia; (iii) judicial or quasi-judicial experience; (iv) familiarity with the Rules of Evidence; and (v) experience with the VSB Disciplinary System.
  • Include a writing sample responding to a disciplinary system hypothetical. The hypothetical for the writing sample is available as a Word document and as a PDF file. Please submit your completed writing sample as a PDF file.

The application review process involves:

  • Disciplinary Board Chairs: review, recommendations, and referral to the Nominating Committee.
  • Nominating Committee: review, recommendations, and re-referral to the Council.
  • Council: review, recommendations, and re-referral to the Supreme Court of Virginia at Council’s February 2026 meeting.
  • Supreme Court of Virginia: Appoints new members.

Additional information on the Disciplinary Board and the application process is available on the VSB website.

Questions should be directed via email to [email protected].

Learn more about the Disciplinary Board and other volunteer opportunities at the VSB.