{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3916.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3916.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3916.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3916.html"}],"law_id":86976,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86976,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3916","catch_line":"Legal aid societies","history":"1956, Ex. Sess., c. 47; 1958, c. 253; 1988, c. 765; 1995, c. 93; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 342.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Virginia State Bar through its governing body is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the function and operation of legal aid societies to further the objective of providing legal assistance to persons requiring such assistance but unable to pay for it. To the extent that interest is paid by a financial institution on client funds deposited by attorneys or law firms in pooled interest-bearing accounts, any interest earned on such accounts shall be paid by the financial institution periodically, but at least quarterly, to the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia.B\n\nThe rules and regulations adopted under subsection A may be enforced by the Virginia State Bar, or by the Attorney General if so authorized by the Virginia State Bar.C\n\nIt shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm, corporation, or other organization to render legal services as a legal aid society, or for any attorney to render legal services at the instance or request of any such person, firm, corporation, or organization unless the person, firm, corporation, or organization complies with the rules and regulations adopted under subsection A. In addition to the criminal penalty, an injunction shall lie to prevent any violation of this section or rule or regulation adopted hereunder.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311418,"text":"The Virginia State Bar through its governing body is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the function and operation of legal aid societies to further the objective of providing legal assistance to persons requiring such assistance but unable to pay for it. To the extent that interest is paid by a financial institution on client funds deposited by attorneys or law firms in pooled interest-bearing accounts, any interest earned on such accounts shall be paid by the financial institution periodically, but at least quarterly, to the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":311419,"text":"The rules and regulations adopted under subsection A may be enforced by the Virginia State Bar, or by the Attorney General if so authorized by the Virginia State Bar.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":311420,"text":"It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm, corporation, or other organization to render legal services as a legal aid society, or for any attorney to render legal services at the instance or request of any such person, firm, corporation, or organization unless the person, firm, corporation, or organization complies with the rules and regulations adopted under subsection A. In addition to the criminal penalty, an injunction shall lie to prevent any violation of this section or rule or regulation adopted hereunder.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13489,"edition_id":1,"name":"Bar Organization and Government","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13488,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","permalink":{"id":244275,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13489,"identifier":"2","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13488,"edition_id":1,"name":"Attorneys","identifier":"39","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13487,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","permalink":{"id":244227,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13488,"identifier":"39","token":"54.1\/IV\/39","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13487,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions Regulated by the Supreme Court","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:01","permalink":{"id":244225,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13487,"identifier":"IV","token":"54.1\/IV","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","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":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71323,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3909","catch_line":"Rules and regulations defining practice of law and prescribing procedures for practice of law by law students, codes of ethics, use of limited liability companies, and disciplinary procedure","url":"\/54.1-3909\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3909","metadata":false},{"id":86149,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3910","catch_line":"Organization and government of Virginia State Bar","url":"\/54.1-3910\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3910","metadata":false},{"id":82492,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3910.1","catch_line":"Enforcement, etc., of costs","url":"\/54.1-3910.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3910.1","metadata":false},{"id":68544,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3911","catch_line":"Transmission of certain information to the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice","url":"\/54.1-3911\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3911","metadata":false},{"id":54453,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3912","catch_line":"Fees","url":"\/54.1-3912\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3912","metadata":false},{"id":73439,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3913","catch_line":"State Bar Fund; receipts; disbursements","url":"\/54.1-3913\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3913","metadata":false},{"id":64919,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3913.1","catch_line":"Clients' Protection Fund","url":"\/54.1-3913.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3913.1","metadata":false},{"id":76222,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3914","catch_line":"Forfeiture of license for failing to pay fees; restoration of license","url":"\/54.1-3914\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3914","metadata":false},{"id":83176,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3915","catch_line":"Restrictions as to rules and regulations","url":"\/54.1-3915\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3915","metadata":false},{"id":64471,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3915.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3915.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3915.1","metadata":false},{"id":86976,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3916","catch_line":"Legal aid societies","url":"\/54.1-3916\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3916","metadata":false},{"id":79653,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3917","catch_line":"Master retirement program","url":"\/54.1-3917\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3917","metadata":false},{"id":58184,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3917.1","catch_line":"Group or individual insurance policies","url":"\/54.1-3917.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3917.1","metadata":false},{"id":71040,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3918","catch_line":"Availability of Virginia State Bar membership list","url":"\/54.1-3918\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3918","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64471,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3915.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3915.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3915.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79653,"structure_id":13489,"section_number":"54.1-3917","catch_line":"Master retirement program","url":"\/54.1-3917\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3917","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3916\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1958, chapter 253; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1995, chapter 93<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82411,"section_number":"17.1-606","catch_line":"Persons allowed services without fees or costs","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-606\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":244317,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86976,"identifier":"54.1-3916","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3916","url":"\/54.1-3916\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3916\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/2\/54.1-3916","dublin_core":{"Title":"Legal aid societies","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3916","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Virginia State Bar through its governing body is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing the function and operation of legal aid societies to further the objective of providing legal assistance to persons requiring such assistance but unable to pay for it. To the extent that interest is paid by a financial institution on client funds deposited by attorneys or law<\/span> firms in pooled interest-bearing accounts, any interest earned on such accounts shall be paid by the financial institution periodically, but at least quarterly, to the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The rules and regulations adopted under subsection A may be enforced by the Virginia State Bar, or by the Attorney General<\/span> if so authorized by the Virginia State Bar. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> for any person, firm, corporation, or other organization to render legal services as a legal aid society, or for any attorney to render legal services at the instance or request of any such person, firm, corporation, or organization unless the person, firm, corporation, or organization complies with the rules and regulations adopted under subsection A. In addition to the criminal penalty<\/span>, an injunction<\/span> shall lie to prevent any violation of this section or rule or regulation adopted hereunder. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLEGAL AID SOCIETIES (\u00a7 54.1-3916)\n\nA. The Virginia State Bar through its governing body is authorized to promulgate\nrules and regulations governing the function and operation of legal aid\nsocieties to further the objective of providing legal assistance to persons\nrequiring such assistance but unable to pay for it. To the extent that interest\nis paid by a financial institution on client funds deposited by attorneys or law\nfirms in pooled interest-bearing accounts, any interest earned on such accounts\nshall be paid by the financial institution periodically, but at least quarterly,\nto the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia.\n\nB. The rules and regulations adopted under subsection A may be enforced by the\nVirginia State Bar, or by the Attorney General if so authorized by the Virginia\nState Bar.\n\nC. It shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person, firm, corporation, or other\norganization to render legal services as a legal aid society, or for any\nattorney to render legal services at the instance or request of any such person,\nfirm, corporation, or organization unless the person, firm, corporation, or\norganization complies with the rules and regulations adopted under subsection A.\nIn addition to the criminal penalty, an injunction shall lie to prevent any\nviolation of this section or rule or regulation adopted hereunder.\n\nHISTORY: 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 47; 1958, c. 253; 1988, c. 765; 1995, c. 93; 2021,\nSp. Sess. I, c. 342.","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}}