Welcome to the Local and Specialty Bar Section

Local and Specialty Bar logoLocal and specialty bar associations in Virginia comprise the Local and Specialty Bar Section. The section was established to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between the VSB and the local and specialty bar associations in the Commonwealth. It sponsors a Bar Leaders Institute each year to help new local and specialty bar officers plan their bar year and assists them with ethical issues, various programs and internal management policies and procedures; sponsors Solo & Small-Firm Practitioner Forums open to all VSB members; sponsors awards of merit, a Local Bar Leader of the Year Award, Specialty Bar Leader of the Year Award, and Bar Association of the Year Award; maintains an information database; and makes executive committee and staff members available for technical assistance or presentations to local and specialty bars.

The section publishes The Connection online newsletter with information of interest to bar leaders. The LSBS also edits, prints and distributes the So You're 18 handbook, which is used by many groups to inform young adults of their rights and responsibilities upon turning 18.

Upcoming Events

DateTitleLocation
 VSB-Sponsored Free and Low-cost CLE Webinars - ongoingVarious, VAWEB12345
Sep 25   |Solo & Small-Firm Practitioner ForumMartinsville, VA092526SSF
Feb 05   |Solo & Small-Firm Practitioner ForumFront Royal, VA020527SSF

What's New?

  

Local Government Attorneys of Virginia Named 2026 Specialty Bar of the Year

Posted on 5/20/2026
The Local Government Attorneys of Virginia (LGA) was named the Specialty Bar of the Year by the Virginia State Bar Local and Specialty Bar Section (LSBS).

  

Richmond Bar Association Named 2026 Bar Association of the Year

Posted on 5/19/2026
The Richmond Bar Association (RBA) was named the Bar Association of the Year by the Virginia State Bar Local and Specialty Bar Section (LSBS).

  

Local and Specialty Bar Associations Receive 2026 Awards of Merit

Posted on 5/11/2026
The Local and Specialty Bar Section has recognized four projects completed by four individual bar associations with Awards of Merit.

  

Molly E. Newton Awarded 2026 Specialty Bar Leader of the Year

Posted on 5/6/2026
Molly E. Newton, president of the Greater Penninsula Women's Bas Association (GPWBA), has been awarded Specialty Bar Leader of the Year by the Virginia State Bar Local and Specialty Bar Section (LSBS).

  

Registration Open for the 2026 VSB Annual Meeting

Posted on 3/16/2026
Registration is open for the 2026 VSB Annual Meeting! This year’s meeting takes place June 3–6 in Virginia Beach.