March 1, 2026
The VSB Legal Ethics Committee continues to study the proposed amendments to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5. An update will be posted here after the committee considers the proposal.
VSB Seeks Public Comment on Amendments to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5, Re: contingent fees
March 27, 2025
Pursuant to Part 6, § IV, ¶ 10-2(C) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Virginia State Bar is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5.
The proposed amendment to Rule 1.5(d) would remove the strict limits on charging a contingent fee in domestic relations cases. Contingent fees would thus be permitted in domestic relations cases subject to the remainder of Rule 1.5 with no additional restrictions imposed. Proposed revised Comment [6] to the rule removes the “rare instances” in which contingent fees would be permitted in domestic relations cases and instead says that contingent fees are permissible to allow for representation of clients who could not afford representation on a noncontingent basis.
Inspection and Comment
The proposed rule is available at the link below.
Any individual, business, or other entity may submit written comments in support of or in opposition to the proposed rule amendments with Cameron M. Rountree, executive director of the Virginia State Bar, not later than May 7, 2025. Comments may be submitted via email to [email protected].
View proposed amendments to Rule 1.5 (pdf)