§ 20-176 Low-income parties; exception from imputed disqualification
A. The disqualification provisions of § 20-175 apply to a collaborative lawyer representing a party with or without fee.
B. After a collaborative law process concludes, another lawyer in a law firm with which a collaborative lawyer disqualified pursuant to § 20-175 is associated may represent a party without fee in the collaborative matter or a matter related to such collaborative matter if:
1. The party has an annual income that qualifies the party for free legal representation under the criteria established by the law firm for free legal representation;
2. The collaborative law participation agreement so provides for such subsequent representation; and
3. The collaborative lawyer is isolated from any participation in the collaborative matter or a matter related to the collaborative matter through procedures within the law firm that are reasonably calculated to isolate the collaborative lawyer from such participation.
History
This law was first created in 2021. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 346 of the Special Session I of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 346.