On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of Virginia, in partnership with the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Section, will host the Admission & Orientation Ceremony for attorneys qualifying to practice before the Supreme Court of Virginia and all courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Newly admitted Virginia attorneys are required to complete an oath card application and submit it to the Clerk’s Office of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Oath cards may be submitted by mail, online, or in-person at the ceremony. Please refer to the provided instructions for submission details. The Sponsor List was last updated may 30, 2026.
Sponsor List
Order of Events:
- 10:30 am: Registration Opens
- 11:45 am–12:15 pm: New Lawyer Orientation
- Lawyers and guests to be seated by 12:25 pm
- 12:30 pm: The Supreme Court of Virginia convenes special admission ceremony
- 1:30 pm: The Court declares itself in recess
INSTRUCTIONS:
Proper court attire is required and ALL cell phones must be turned off before entering the ballroom. No tickets are required to attend. There is no limit on the number of guests; however, the only guaranteed seating is for newly licensed attorneys.
When you arrive at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, promptly report to the Level II Ballroom and check in at the appropriate law school table. There will be a table for each Virginia and D.C. law school and a separate table for out-of-state law schools and readers of law. Each table will have a sign containing the name of the school(s) that table is handling. If you attended an out of state law school, check in at the out of state table. The check-in list for the out-of-state table is alphabetical by school.
We have arranged an area for your family and friends to take photographs. This designated area will be in the lobby of the Convention Center.
Note: It is recommended that young children NOT attend this ceremony. Court is actually in session, and the Court frowns upon a lot of noise and/or people coming and going from the room. Young children tend to get quickly bored with the proceedings and have to be removed from the room; thus, the person responsible for the children ends up missing the ceremony.
Thank you for your cooperation, as it will help us ensure a successful program.
The GRCC Parking Deck is located at the corner of 3rd and Marshall Streets and is conveniently connected to the GRCC via the 3rd level of the deck. The current pricing is $8.00.
FAQs:
What if I cannot attend the A&O Ceremony?
If you need or want to be sworn in to every court in the Commonwealth, including the Supreme Court of Virginia:
- – You may attend the next A&O Ceremony (offered every June and December), or
- – Contact the Supreme Court of Virginia Clerk’s Office at 804-786-2251 or [email protected] to obtain alternative dates to be sworn in virtually or in person when the Court is in session.
If you will primarily practice at one (or a few) courts in the Commonwealth:
- – You may be sworn in at each court where you will be practicing. It is recommended that you contact the local court’s clerk’s office to understand the procedure of that court.
Can I practice law before the A&O ceremony?
You may practice law once you have received a license by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners, have paid the required dues to the VSB, and are an active member in good standing. See Va. Code §§54.1-3900 and 3910. Every person licensed by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners or admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Virginia shall register with the Virginia State Bar within one year after licensure or admission if they intend to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Va. S. Ct. R., Part 6, §IV, ¶ 2(a). However, you may not appear in any court in the Commonwealth until you are "sworn in," i.e., administered the oath of qualification by the Supreme Court of Virginia or qualified by an individual court to practice only in that court. See Va. Code §54.1-3903. If you are not yet "sworn in," but are an active member in good standing of the VSB, you may engage in the practice of law but may not appear in court on behalf of a client. The admissions ceremony at the Supreme Court of Virginia qualifies you to practice in any court in the Commonwealth, but not any federal or bankruptcy courts sitting in Virginia. You must be separately admitted to the federal and bankruptcy courts. Note that the signing and filing of a pleading with a court is an appearance in that court and you must be admitted to practice in that court to do so.
Find this and more about legal ethics practice and the law on the Legal Ethics homepage.
Do I need to pre-register for the A&O Ceremony?
No, you do not need to pre-register. Attorneys should arrive during registration to check in.
The June Admissions Ceremony is intended to swear in attorneys who passed the most recent February bar exam. The December Admissions Ceremony is intended to swear in attorneys who passed the most recent July bar exam. If you were licensed more than one year prior to the ceremony you intend to attend, please contact [email protected] to be added to a list at check-in.
Can I provide my own sponsor?
Unfortunately, no. For the June and December Admission & Orientation Ceremonies, a sponsor will be provided for you. Designated sponsors will read the names of the present attorneys to be sworn in. If you attend an alternative ceremony, not the June or December Admission & Orientation Ceremonies, you may provide your own sponsor only for in-person ceremonies held when the Court is in session; a sponsor will be provided for virtual admission ceremonies.
What if a different sponsor swears me in than the name I wrote on my oath card?
The Supreme Court of Virginia Clerk’s Office will update the oath card accordingly.
What type of payment may be submitted with the oath card?
You may pay by check, money order, or cash.
Can I bring the fee and oath card to the ceremony with me?
Yes, but you may not pay by cash at the June or December ceremonies. It is preferred that you submit your oath card online or mail it in. See the instructions here.
What if I haven’t received my Bar card yet?
If you have registered with the Virginia State Bar, your Bar card will be mailed to you. You can still be sworn in if you don’t have your physical bar card yet. A representative from the Virginia State Bar will be on site at the A&O Ceremony to answer questions you may have about the status of your registration with the VSB.