{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-3931.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-3931.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-3931.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-3931.html"}],"law_id":368954,"edition_id":2,"section_id":368954,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3931","catch_line":"Granting certificates without examination; law professors","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-67; 1988, c. 765; 1998, c. 796; 2013, c. 396.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Supreme Court shall have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any attorney who has been admitted to practice law before the court of last resort of any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia for at least five years. The certificate shall entitle the holder, after paying his license tax, to practice in the courts of this Commonwealth.\n\nB\n\nThe Supreme Court shall also have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any person connected with any foreign embassy or legation to appear in the courts of this Commonwealth in all matters connected with his official duties, provided that the person has been admitted to practice in the court of last resort of the jurisdiction of the embassy or legation to which he is attached or he has received a degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association.\n\nC\n\nThe Supreme Court shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations allowing professors in law schools located in the Commonwealth, which are accredited by the American Bar Association, to become associate members of the Virginia State Bar. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the granting of a certificate without examination to a professor who is otherwise eligible for such a certificate under any other provision of this section.\n\nD\n\nThe Supreme Court may authorize the Board or any committee thereof to administer the provisions of this section.\n\nE\n\nAll other persons shall take the examinations and comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1375752,"text":"The Supreme Court shall have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any attorney who has been admitted to practice law before the court of last resort of any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia for at least five years. The certificate shall entitle the holder, after paying his license tax, to practice in the courts of this Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1375753,"text":"The Supreme Court shall also have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any person connected with any foreign embassy or legation to appear in the courts of this Commonwealth in all matters connected with his official duties, provided that the person has been admitted to practice in the court of last resort of the jurisdiction of the embassy or legation to which he is attached or he has received a degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1375754,"text":"The Supreme Court shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations allowing professors in law schools located in the Commonwealth, which are accredited by the American Bar Association, to become associate members of the Virginia State Bar. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the granting of a certificate without examination to a professor who is otherwise eligible for such a certificate under any other provision of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1375755,"text":"The Supreme Court may authorize the Board or any committee thereof to administer the provisions of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1375756,"text":"All other persons shall take the examinations and comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52569,"edition_id":2,"name":"Examinations and Issuance of Licenses","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":4,"parent_id":52565,"metadata":{"child_laws":10,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:19","permalink":{"id":1471361,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52569,"identifier":"4","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52565,"edition_id":2,"name":"Attorneys","identifier":"39","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52564,"metadata":{"child_laws":55,"child_structures":7},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:07","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:18","permalink":{"id":1471229,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52565,"identifier":"39","token":"54.1\/IV\/39","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52564,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions Regulated by the Supreme Court","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":4,"parent_id":52436,"metadata":{"child_laws":55,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:07","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:18","permalink":{"id":1471227,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52564,"identifier":"IV","token":"54.1\/IV","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52436,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":118,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1282,"child_structures":163},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":368948,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3925","catch_line":"Application for examination","url":"\/54.1-3925\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3925","metadata":false},{"id":368945,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3925.1","catch_line":"Proof of character and fitness required of applicant; character and fitness committee; fees","url":"\/54.1-3925.1\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3925.1","metadata":false},{"id":368946,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3925.2","catch_line":"Access to criminal history records","url":"\/54.1-3925.2\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3925.2","metadata":false},{"id":368947,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3925.3","catch_line":"Authority for subpoenas; qualified privilege and immunity","url":"\/54.1-3925.3\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3925.3","metadata":false},{"id":368949,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3926","catch_line":"Preliminary proof of education required of applicant","url":"\/54.1-3926\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3926","metadata":false},{"id":368950,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3927","catch_line":"Time and place of examination","url":"\/54.1-3927\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3927","metadata":false},{"id":368951,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3928","catch_line":"Issuance of license or certificate; list of persons certified to Supreme Court","url":"\/54.1-3928\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3928","metadata":false},{"id":368952,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3929","catch_line":"Preservation of examination papers","url":"\/54.1-3929\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3929","metadata":false},{"id":368953,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3930","catch_line":"Reexaminations","url":"\/54.1-3930\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3930","metadata":false},{"id":368954,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3931","catch_line":"Granting certificates without examination; law professors","url":"\/54.1-3931\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3931","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":368953,"structure_id":52569,"section_number":"54.1-3930","catch_line":"Reexaminations","url":"\/54.1-3930\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3930","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3931\/","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 1988, chapter 765; in 1998, chapter 796<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 396<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1471399,"object_type":"law","relational_id":368954,"identifier":"54.1-3931","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3931","url":"\/54.1-3931\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3931\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/4\/54.1-3931","dublin_core":{"Title":"Granting certificates without examination; law professors","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3931","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Supreme Court<\/span> shall have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any attorney who has been admitted to practice law<\/span> before the court<\/span> of last resort of any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia for at least five years. The certificate shall entitle the holder, after paying his license tax, to practice in the courts<\/span> of this Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Supreme Court<\/span> shall also have discretion to grant a certificate without examination to any person connected with any foreign embassy or legation to appear in the courts<\/span> of this Commonwealth in all matters connected with his official duties, provided that the person has been admitted to practice in the court<\/span> of last resort of the jurisdiction<\/span> of the embassy or legation to which he is attached or he has received a degree from a law<\/span> school approved by the American Bar Association. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Supreme Court<\/span> shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations allowing professors in law<\/span> schools located in the Commonwealth, which are accredited by the American Bar Association, to become associate members of the Virginia State Bar. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the granting of a certificate without examination to a professor who is otherwise eligible for such a certificate under any other provision of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Supreme Court<\/span> may authorize the Board or any committee thereof to administer the provisions of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> All other persons shall take the examinations and comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGRANTING CERTIFICATES WITHOUT EXAMINATION; LAW PROFESSORS (\u00a7 54.1-3931)\n\nA. The Supreme Court shall have discretion to grant a certificate without\nexamination to any attorney who has been admitted to practice law before the\ncourt of last resort of any state or territory of the United States or the\nDistrict of Columbia for at least five years. The certificate shall entitle the\nholder, after paying his license tax, to practice in the courts of this\nCommonwealth.\n\nB. The Supreme Court shall also have discretion to grant a certificate without\nexamination to any person connected with any foreign embassy or legation to\nappear in the courts of this Commonwealth in all matters connected with his\nofficial duties, provided that the person has been admitted to practice in the\ncourt of last resort of the jurisdiction of the embassy or legation to which he\nis attached or he has received a degree from a law school approved by the\nAmerican Bar Association.\n\nC. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to promulgate rules and\nregulations allowing professors in law schools located in the Commonwealth,\nwhich are accredited by the American Bar Association, to become associate\nmembers of the Virginia State Bar. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the\ngranting of a certificate without examination to a professor who is otherwise\neligible for such a certificate under any other provision of this section.\n\nD. The Supreme Court may authorize the Board or any committee thereof to\nadminister the provisions of this section.\n\nE. All other persons shall take the examinations and comply with the applicable\nprovisions of this chapter.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-67; 1988, c. 765; 1998, c. 796; 2013, c. 396.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}