State bar seeking comment on legislative activity

Listen to this article

The Virginia State Bar is seeking public comment on proposed engagement in legislative activity in the 2024 General Assembly, pursuant to Section IV, Part 6, Paragraph 9(J) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

The VSB Access to Legal Services Committee voted unanimously in August to request support from the VSB leadership for recommendations of the Virginia Child Dependency Legal Representation Workgroup to improve legal representation in certain child dependency cases.

At the Oct. 13 VSB Council meeting, the Access to Legal Services Committee will ask the council to authorize the VSB, with the approval of the Supreme Court of Virginia, to support policy, budgetary and related legislative activity stemming from the workgroup’s recommendations.

Those recommendations include increasing compensation from $90 per hour with a $120 cap per petition for court-appointed legal counsel for parents in certain child dependency cases. Other recommendations include establishing a state-level commission or similar office to train, support and give oversight for such court-appointed counsel and to appropriate funds to establish pilot multidisciplinary offices for certain child dependency cases and parents’ defense.

Comments in support of or in opposition to the proposed amendments can be submitted to VSB Director of Access to Legal Services Crista Gantz by close of business Oct. 9 via email at [email protected].