Council is an 83-person body, consisting of 67 lawyers elected from the 31 circuits throughout the Commonwealth, as well as nine at-large members appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia, four chairs from the Senior Lawyers Section, Young Lawyers Section, Diversity Section, and Local and Specialty Bar Section, and three officers. Council representation ranges from a high of 14 lawyers for Circuit 19 (Fairfax) to a minimum of one lawyer for 22 other circuits. Lawyers elect their Council representatives by popular vote through an online process in each circuit, or a few smaller circuits elect their Council representatives by voting at a meeting convened by the chief judge of the circuit. Council members may serve two three-year terms, but must be re-elected to serve a 2nd term.
Candidates are solicited January–March in Virginia Lawyer magazine, in emails, and online, and must collect 10 signatures of active, in-good-standing lawyers in their circuit on or before April 1 to be placed on the ballot. Ballots are emailed in mid-April, and Virginia lawyers have a few weeks to cast their ballots online. Learn about voluntary bar service opportunities.
Upcoming VSB Council Meetings may be found on the Calendar.