- The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners requires applicants to complete and submit the "Character and Fitness" form along with their applications. To complete the form, an applicant must provide an exhaustive record of his background information for the past 10 years or during the years since he turned 18, whichever period is shorter. The applicant must report, at minimum, his employment history, criminal record, all educational institutions attended, any honor code violations, outstanding financial obligations and any misconduct or substance abuse.
- The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners administers the Virginia bar exam the last Tuesday before the last Wednesday in February and July. The February bar exam is in Norfolk, Virginia. The July bar exam is in Roanoke, Virginia. The bar exam takes two days. The first day is the Virginia day. It consists of nine essays and 20 short answer questions that count the same as one essay. The second day is the multistate bar exam (MBE), which consists of 200 multiple choice questions. As of 2010, Virginia requires examinees to achieve a passing score of 140.
- As of 2010, Virginia requires a score of 85 on the MPRE. Applicants interested in licensing by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners must submit their MPRE scores within two years of successfully passing the Virginia bar exam.
- Attorneys who have practiced full-time for five years in another jurisdiction may file an Admission on Motion to become licensed in Virginia in lieu of sitting for the Virginia bar exam. As of 2010, the cost of filing an Admission on Motion is $1,500. It takes between four and six months for approval from the date the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners receives the application.
- To maintain a license, Virginia attorneys must complete 12 hours of CLE annually, including two hours in ethics. Opportunities for completion of CLE hours are available online, in person, via telephone, at a seminar or a class. The cost for CLE hours varies depending on the program.
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