Professional Guidelines

An agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia

The Virginia State Bar

Professional Guidelines

13-12 Substantial Compliance, Notice and Evidentiary Rulings, and Address Notification

  1. Substantial Compliance. Except where this Paragraph provides specific time deadlines, substantial compliance with the provisions hereof shall be sufficient, and no allegation of Misconduct shall be dismissed on the sole ground that any such provision has not been strictly complied with.
  2. Time Deadlines. Where specific time deadlines are provided, such deadlines shall be jurisdictional, except when the Clerk of the Disciplinary System, Bar Counsel, a District Committee or the Board is granted specific authority herein to extend or otherwise modify any such deadline.
  3. Service. Whenever any notice or other writing directed to the Respondent is required or permitted under this Rule, such notice or other writing shall be deemed effective and served when mailed by certified mail to the Respondent at the Respondent’s last address on record for membership purposes with the Bar or, if service cannot be effected at the Respondent’s last address on record, and if the Respondent is a Foreign Lawyer, a lawyer engaged pro hac vice in the practice of law in Virginia, or a lawyer not admitted in Virginia, when mailed by first class mail to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
  4. Evidentiary Rulings. In any Disciplinary Proceeding, evidentiary rulings shall be made favoring receipt into evidence of all reasonably probative evidence to satisfy the ends of justice. The weight given such evidence received shall be commensurate with its evidentiary foundation and likely reliability.
  5. Rights of Counsel for Complainant or Witness. Neither counsel for the Complainant, if there is one, nor counsel for any witnesses, may examine or cross-examine any witness, introduce any evidence or present any argument.
  7. English Required. All communication with the Bar, whether written or oral, shall be in English.

The amendments effective February 17, 2011, revised Paragraph 13 regarding multijurisdictional practice.


Updated: April 4, 2014