{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-3939.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-3939.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-3939.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-3939.html"}],"law_id":368963,"edition_id":2,"section_id":368963,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3939","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-78; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 33; 1964, c. 622, \u00a7\u00a7 54-83.1:1, 54-83.1:2; 1988, c. 765.","full_text":"As used in this article:\n\n“Agent” means any person who acts for another with or without compensation at the request, or with the knowledge and acquiescence, of the other in dealing with third persons.\n\n“Runner” or “capper” means any person acting within the Commonwealth as an agent for an attorney in the solicitation of professional employment for the attorney.\n\n“Solicitation of professional employment” means obtaining or attempting to obtain, for an attorney, the opportunity to represent or render other legal services to another person, for which services the attorney will or may receive compensation. Solicitation of professional employment shall not include conduct (i) limited to mere statements of opinion respecting the ability of an attorney, (ii) pursuant to a uniform legal aid or lawyer referral plan approved by the Virginia State Bar or (iii) pursuant to any qualified legal services plan or contract of legal services insurance.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1375782,"text":"As used in this article:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1375783,"text":"“Agent” means any person who acts for another with or without compensation at the request, or with the knowledge and acquiescence, of the other in dealing with third persons.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1375784,"text":"“Runner” or “capper” means any person acting within the Commonwealth as an agent for an attorney in the solicitation of professional employment for the attorney.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1375785,"text":"“Solicitation of professional employment” means obtaining or attempting to obtain, for an attorney, the opportunity to represent or render other legal services to another person, for which services the attorney will or may receive compensation. Solicitation of professional employment shall not include conduct (i) limited to mere statements of opinion respecting the ability of an attorney, (ii) pursuant to a uniform legal aid or lawyer referral plan approved by the Virginia State Bar or (iii) pursuant to any qualified legal services plan or contract of legal services insurance.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52572,"edition_id":2,"name":"Solicitation of Professional Employment","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":6,"parent_id":52565,"metadata":{"child_laws":6,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:14","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:19","permalink":{"id":1471439,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52572,"identifier":"7","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7","url":"\/54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/","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":368963,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3939","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3939\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3939","metadata":false},{"id":368964,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3940","catch_line":"Solicitation","url":"\/54.1-3940\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3940","metadata":false},{"id":368965,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3941","catch_line":"Unlawful to act as runners or cappers","url":"\/54.1-3941\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3941","metadata":false},{"id":368966,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3942","catch_line":"Validity of contract","url":"\/54.1-3942\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3942","metadata":false},{"id":368967,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3943","catch_line":"Injunction against running, capping and soliciting","url":"\/54.1-3943\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3943","metadata":false},{"id":368968,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3944","catch_line":"Penalty for violation","url":"\/54.1-3944\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3944","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":368964,"structure_id":52572,"section_number":"54.1-3940","catch_line":"Solicitation","url":"\/54.1-3940\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3940","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3939\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1964, chapter 622; in 1988, chapter 765.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1471441,"object_type":"law","relational_id":368963,"identifier":"54.1-3939","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3939","url":"\/54.1-3939\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3939\/","token":"54.1\/IV\/39\/7\/54.1-3939","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3939","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this article:<\/p>

“Agent<\/span>” means any person who acts for another with or without compensation at the request, or with the knowledge and acquiescence, of the other in dealing with third persons.<\/p>

“Runner<\/span>” or “capper<\/span>” means any person acting within the Commonwealth as an agent<\/span> for an attorney in the solicitation of professional employment<\/span> for the attorney.<\/p>

“Solicitation of professional employment<\/span>” means obtaining or attempting to obtain, for an attorney, the opportunity to represent or render other legal services to another person, for which services the attorney will or may receive compensation. Solicitation of professional employment<\/span> shall not include conduct (i) limited to mere statements of opinion<\/span> respecting the ability of an attorney, (ii) pursuant to a uniform legal aid or lawyer referral plan approved by the Virginia State Bar or (iii) pursuant to any qualified legal services plan or contract<\/span> of legal services insurance.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-3939)\n\nAs used in this article:\n\n“Agent” means any person who acts for another with or without\ncompensation at the request, or with the knowledge and acquiescence, of the\nother in dealing with third persons.\n\n“Runner” or “capper” means any person acting within the\nCommonwealth as an agent for an attorney in the solicitation of professional\nemployment for the attorney.\n\n“Solicitation of professional employment” means obtaining or\nattempting to obtain, for an attorney, the opportunity to represent or render\nother legal services to another person, for which services the attorney will or\nmay receive compensation. Solicitation of professional employment shall not\ninclude conduct (i) limited to mere statements of opinion respecting the ability\nof an attorney, (ii) pursuant to a uniform legal aid or lawyer referral plan\napproved by the Virginia State Bar or (iii) pursuant to any qualified legal\nservices plan or contract of legal services insurance.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-78; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 33; 1964, c. 622, \u00a7\u00a7\n54-83.1:1, 54-83.1:2; 1988, c. 765.","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"}}