You're retiring, but your law degree doesn't have to if you transition into emeritus status and practice only pro bono.
There are tens of thousands of Virginians who need your help but cannot afford an attorney. Whether it’s one day a month or five days a week, your legal experience could change the life of a child, a family, a community.
In May of 2025, the Supreme Court of Virginia approved changes to the emeritus class of membership as a way of encouraging pro bono practice by experienced attorneys. The amendments, effective July 15, 2025, broaden the eligibility for emeritus class membership by removing the recent practice requirement and reducing the practice duration from 20 years to 10. See Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 3(f) Emeritus Members.
Emeritus members can help close the justice gap in Virginia by providing exclusively pro bono services in accordance with Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Emeritus members do not pay dues or the clients’ protection fund fee, incentives designed to reduce the financial burden on experienced Virginia lawyers performing pro bono services and no longer engaged in paid legal work.
“I want to give back to my profession that has given so much to me.”
-Charlie Phillips, Salem, emeritus member
As an emeritus member, you must continue to keep up your yearly education requirements, but you will be eligible for 12 FREE hours of CLE credit from Virginia CLE.
Emeritus members must be affiliated with at least one Qualified Legal Services Provider of their choice, but supervision of their pro bono work, by the QLSP is not required.
To be eligible:
- You are willing to limit your practice exclusively to pro bono service.
- You are an active, associate, judicial, disabled or retired member of the bar in good standing and not the subject of discipline by our bar or any court within the past 10 years.
- You have been active member of the VSB for at least 10 years or have practiced law in another U.S. jurisdiction for 10 years or more.
- You certify your affiliation with a Qualified Legal Services Provider.
- You certify whether or not you are covered by professional liability insurance. Emeritus members must provide the annual certification to the Bar within 60 days of receiving the dues renewal request.
- You continue with the mandatory legal education (MCLE) requirements for active members as provided in paragraph 17.
- You can apply at any time. However, members who switch to emeritus class after the annual dues renewal period closes will not be reimbursed for any dues paid prior to the change in membership class.
For questions about the program, contact the pro bono / access to legal services department at (804) 775-0522.
To start the application process toward emeritus status, call the regulatory compliance department at (804) 775-0530. Share this information with the TIES program brochure (pdf).