{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-510.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-510.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-510.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-510.html"}],"law_id":71775,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71775,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-510","catch_line":"Employment of special counsel generally","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 2-88; 1966, c. 677, \u00a7 2.1-122; 1975, c. 372; 1976, c. 726; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 572; 2007, c. 248; 2012, c. 847; 2014, c. 824; 2019, c. 357.","full_text":"No special counsel shall be employed for or by the Governor or any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or district court except in the following cases:\n\n1\n\nWhen the Governor determines that, because of the nature of the legal service to be performed, the Attorney General&#8217;s office is unable to render such service, then the Governor shall issue an exemption order stating with particularity the facts and reasons leading to the conclusion that the Attorney General&#8217;s office is unable to render such service. The Governor may then employ special counsel to render such service as he may deem necessary and proper. The compensation for such special counsel shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the administration of the board, commission, division, or department to be represented or whose members, officers, inspectors, investigators, or other employees are to be represented pursuant to this section.2\n\nIn cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for the Commonwealth, where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General to render such service, he may employ special counsel whose compensation shall be paid out of the appropriation for the Attorney General&#8217;s office.3\n\nIn cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, member of the General Assembly, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or district court where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General&#8217;s office to render such service, special counsel may be employed but only as set forth in subsection C of &#xA7; 2.2-507, upon the written recommendation of the Attorney General, who shall approve all requisitions drawn upon the Comptroller for warrants as compensation for such special counsel before the Comptroller shall have authority to issue such warrants.4\n\nIn cases where the Attorney General certifies to the Governor that he is unable to render certain legal services, the Governor may employ special counsel or other assistance to render such services as may be necessary.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":258586,"text":"No special counsel shall be employed for or by the Governor or any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or district court except in the following cases:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":258587,"text":"When the Governor determines that, because of the nature of the legal service to be performed, the Attorney General&#8217;s office is unable to render such service, then the Governor shall issue an exemption order stating with particularity the facts and reasons leading to the conclusion that the Attorney General&#8217;s office is unable to render such service. The Governor may then employ special counsel to render such service as he may deem necessary and proper. The compensation for such special counsel shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the administration of the board, commission, division, or department to be represented or whose members, officers, inspectors, investigators, or other employees are to be represented pursuant to this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":258588,"text":"In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for the Commonwealth, where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General to render such service, he may employ special counsel whose compensation shall be paid out of the appropriation for the Attorney General&#8217;s office.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":258589,"text":"In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, member of the General Assembly, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or district court where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General&#8217;s office to render such service, special counsel may be employed but only as set forth in subsection C of &#xA7; 2.2-507, upon the written recommendation of the Attorney General, who shall approve all requisitions drawn upon the Comptroller for warrants as compensation for such special counsel before the Comptroller shall have authority to issue such warrants.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":258590,"text":"In cases where the Attorney General certifies to the Governor that he is unable to render certain legal services, the Governor may employ special counsel or other assistance to render such services as may be necessary.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13688,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13687,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","permalink":{"id":172305,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13688,"identifier":"1","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1","url":"\/2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13687,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Law","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13686,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","permalink":{"id":172303,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13687,"identifier":"5","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5","url":"\/2.2\/I\/B\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13686,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Law","identifier":"B","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12784,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:33","permalink":{"id":172301,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13686,"identifier":"B","token":"2.2\/I\/B","url":"\/2.2\/I\/B\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12784,"edition_id":1,"name":"Organization of State Government","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":171455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12784,"identifier":"I","token":"2.2\/I","url":"\/2.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78581,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-500","catch_line":"Attorney General to be chief executive officer; duties generally","url":"\/2.2-500\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-500","metadata":false},{"id":63667,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-501","catch_line":"Assistant and deputy Attorneys General","url":"\/2.2-501\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-501","metadata":false},{"id":69927,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-502","catch_line":"Support staff","url":"\/2.2-502\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-502","metadata":false},{"id":65967,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-503","catch_line":"Office space","url":"\/2.2-503\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-503","metadata":false},{"id":61651,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-504","catch_line":"Contingent and traveling expenses","url":"\/2.2-504\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-504","metadata":false},{"id":80761,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-505","catch_line":"Official opinions of Attorney General","url":"\/2.2-505\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-505","metadata":false},{"id":60958,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-506","catch_line":"Legal services to attorneys for the Commonwealth in certain proceedings; costs","url":"\/2.2-506\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-506","metadata":false},{"id":71070,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-507","catch_line":"Legal service in civil matters","url":"\/2.2-507\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-507","metadata":false},{"id":87061,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-507.1","catch_line":"Authority of Attorney General regarding charitable assets","url":"\/2.2-507.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-507.1","metadata":false},{"id":79356,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-507.2","catch_line":"Youth Internet Safety Fund established","url":"\/2.2-507.2\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-507.2","metadata":false},{"id":68735,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-507.3","catch_line":"Cooperation with the Opioid Abatement Authority","url":"\/2.2-507.3\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-507.3","metadata":false},{"id":73873,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-508","catch_line":"Legal service in certain redistricting proceedings","url":"\/2.2-508\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-508","metadata":false},{"id":60882,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-509","catch_line":"Representation in administrative proceedings","url":"\/2.2-509\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-509","metadata":false},{"id":73168,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-509.1","catch_line":"Powers of investigators; enforcement of certain tobacco laws","url":"\/2.2-509.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-509.1","metadata":false},{"id":71775,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-510","catch_line":"Employment of special counsel generally","url":"\/2.2-510\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-510","metadata":false},{"id":76548,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-510.1","catch_line":"Open negotiation for employment of special counsel","url":"\/2.2-510.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-510.1","metadata":false},{"id":75372,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-510.2","catch_line":"Employment of outside counsel where a conflict of interests exists","url":"\/2.2-510.2\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-510.2","metadata":false},{"id":77776,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-511","catch_line":"Criminal cases","url":"\/2.2-511\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-511","metadata":false},{"id":54665,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-511.1","catch_line":"Public integrity; law-enforcement misconduct","url":"\/2.2-511.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-511.1","metadata":false},{"id":70939,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-511.2","catch_line":"Organized Retail Crime Fund; report","url":"\/2.2-511.2\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-511.2","metadata":false},{"id":80182,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-512","catch_line":"Employment of special counsel to prosecute persons illegally practicing law","url":"\/2.2-512\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-512","metadata":false},{"id":72479,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-513","catch_line":"Counsel for Commonwealth in federal matters","url":"\/2.2-513\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-513","metadata":false},{"id":82895,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-514","catch_line":"Compromise and settlement of disputes","url":"\/2.2-514\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-514","metadata":false},{"id":61890,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-515","catch_line":"Service on board of national tobacco trust entity","url":"\/2.2-515\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-515","metadata":false},{"id":57789,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-515.1","catch_line":"Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Violence","url":"\/2.2-515.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-515.1","metadata":false},{"id":63732,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-515.2","catch_line":"Address confidentiality program established; victims of domestic violence, stalking, child abduction, sexual violence, or human trafficking; application; disclosure of records","url":"\/2.2-515.2\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-515.2","metadata":false},{"id":81041,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-516","catch_line":"Annual report","url":"\/2.2-516\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-516","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73168,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-509.1","catch_line":"Powers of investigators; enforcement of certain tobacco laws","url":"\/2.2-509.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-509.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76548,"structure_id":13688,"section_number":"2.2-510.1","catch_line":"Open negotiation for employment of special counsel","url":"\/2.2-510.1\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-510.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-510\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 677; in 1975, chapter 372; in 1976, chapter 726; in 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0844\">844<\/a>; in 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0572\">572<\/a>; in 2007, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?071+ful+CHAP0248\">248<\/a>; in 2012, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0847\">847<\/a>; in 2014, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0824\">824<\/a>; in 2019, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?191+ful+CHAP0357\">357<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60592,"section_number":"17.1-903","catch_line":"Officers and employees; experts and reporters; witnesses; legal counsel","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-903\/"},{"id":56342,"section_number":"51.5-56","catch_line":"Powers of the Authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-56\/"},{"id":82548,"section_number":"63.2-1950","catch_line":"Child support enforcement privatized legal services","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1950\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":71070,"section_number":"2.2-507","catch_line":"Legal service in civil matters","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-507\/"}],"permalink":{"id":172363,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71775,"identifier":"2.2-510","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-510","url":"\/2.2-510\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-510\/","token":"2.2\/I\/B\/5\/1\/2.2-510","dublin_core":{"Title":"Employment of special counsel generally","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-510","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>No special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> shall be employed for or by the Governor or any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, justice of the Supreme <span class=\"dictionary\">Court<\/span>, or <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> of any <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> or district <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> except in the following cases:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> When the Governor determines that, because of the nature of the legal service to be performed, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>&#8217;s office is unable to render such service, then the Governor shall <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> an exemption <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> stating with particularity the <span class=\"dictionary\">facts<\/span> and reasons leading to the conclusion that the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>&#8217;s office is unable to render such service. The Governor may then employ special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> to render such service as he may deem necessary and proper. The compensation for such special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the administration of the board, commission, division, or department to be represented or whose members, officers, inspectors, investigators, or other employees are to be represented pursuant to this section. <a id=\"paragraph-258587\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/2.2-510\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for the Commonwealth, where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span> to render such service, he may employ special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> whose compensation shall be paid out of the appropriation for the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>&#8217;s office. <a id=\"paragraph-258588\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/2.2-510\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for any state department, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity, official, member of the General Assembly, justice of the Supreme <span class=\"dictionary\">Court<\/span>, or <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span> of any <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> or district <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>&#8217;s office to render such service, special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> may be employed but only as set forth in subsection C of &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Legal service in civil matters\" href=\"\/2.2-507\/\">2.2-507<\/a>, upon the written recommendation of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, who shall approve all requisitions drawn upon the Comptroller for warrants as compensation for such special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> before the Comptroller shall have authority to <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> such warrants. <a id=\"paragraph-258589\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/2.2-510\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> In cases where the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span> certifies to the Governor that he is unable to render certain legal services, the Governor may employ special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> or other assistance to render such services as may be necessary. <a id=\"paragraph-258590\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/2.2-510\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL GENERALLY (\u00a7 2.2-510)\n\nNo special counsel shall be employed for or by the Governor or any state\ndepartment, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity,\nofficial, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge of any circuit court or\ndistrict court except in the following cases:\n\n1. When the Governor determines that, because of the nature of the legal service\nto be performed, the Attorney General&#8217;s office is unable to render such\nservice, then the Governor shall issue an exemption order stating with\nparticularity the facts and reasons leading to the conclusion that the Attorney\nGeneral&#8217;s office is unable to render such service. The Governor may then\nemploy special counsel to render such service as he may deem necessary and\nproper. The compensation for such special counsel shall be paid out of the funds\nappropriated for the administration of the board, commission, division, or\ndepartment to be represented or whose members, officers, inspectors,\ninvestigators, or other employees are to be represented pursuant to this\nsection.\n\n2. In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for the\nCommonwealth, where it is impracticable or uneconomical for the Attorney General\nto render such service, he may employ special counsel whose compensation shall\nbe paid out of the appropriation for the Attorney General&#8217;s office.\n\n3. In cases of legal services in civil matters to be performed for any state\ndepartment, institution, division, commission, board, bureau, agency, entity,\nofficial, member of the General Assembly, justice of the Supreme Court, or judge\nof any circuit court or district court where it is impracticable or uneconomical\nfor the Attorney General&#8217;s office to render such service, special counsel\nmay be employed but only as set forth in subsection C of &#xA7; 2.2-507, upon\nthe written recommendation of the Attorney General, who shall approve all\nrequisitions drawn upon the Comptroller for warrants as compensation for such\nspecial counsel before the Comptroller shall have authority to issue such\nwarrants.\n\n4. In cases where the Attorney General certifies to the Governor that he is\nunable to render certain legal services, the Governor may employ special counsel\nor other assistance to render such services as may be necessary.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 2-88; 1966, c. 677, \u00a7 2.1-122; 1975, c. 372; 1976, c.\n726; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 572; 2007, c. 248; 2012, c. 847; 2014, c. 824; 2019,\nc. 357.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}