Virginia Bar Association
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia
.
In 1890, the Virginia General Assembly
passed an act incorporating the Virginia State Bar Association. Section 1 of the act provides: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That William J. Robertson
, R.G.H. Kean
, Thomas Tabb, John W. Riely
, James A. Walker
, Holmes Conrad
, Frank V. Winston, S. Ferguson Beach, John H. Fulton, Charles A. Graves
, Richard B. Tunstall, James C. Lamb, Charles M. Blackford
, William J. Leake
, Thomas S. Martin
, Alexander Hamilton
, James E. Heath, Micajah Woods
, George M. Harrison
, F.H. McGuire, and such other persons as are now associated with them in the unincorporated society known as the Virginia State Bar Association, or as may be hereafter associated with them under this charter, be, and they are hereby, incorporated under the corporate name of 'The Virginia State Bar Association,' for the purpose of cultivating and advancing the science of jurisprudence, facilitating the administration of justice in this State, and upholding and elevating the standard of honor, integrity, and courtesy in the legal profession."
In 1938, after the Virginia State Bar
was created as a state-controlled regulatory association, the name of the older organization was changed to the current Virginia Bar Association.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
VBA Mission
The Virginia Bar Association is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.
History
The VBA, (originally named the Virginia State Bar Association (VSBA)), was founded in July 1888 in Virginia Beach.In 1890, the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
passed an act incorporating the Virginia State Bar Association. Section 1 of the act provides: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That William J. Robertson
William J. Robertson
William Joseph Robertson was born in Culpeper County, Virginia in 1817. He attended the University of Virginia from 1834 to 1836 and again in 1841. After graduating, he was admitted to the bar in 1843, settled in Charlottesville to practice law, and won election as Commonwealth’s Attorney for...
, R.G.H. Kean
Robert Garlick Hill Kean
Robert Garlick Hill Kean was a Virginia lawyer and Civil War bureaucrat, whose wartime diary, published after his death, continues to provide useful insight into the inner workings of the Confederate government during the War....
, Thomas Tabb, John W. Riely
John W. Riely
John W. Riely was born in Jefferson County, Virginia . He first attended school in Clarke County and then at Middleway in Jefferson County. After this, he attended Winchester Seminary for several years. In order to be able to continue his education, he next clerked in a store in Winchester for...
, James A. Walker
James A. Walker
James Alexander Walker was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and Confederate general during the American Civil War, later serving as a United States Congressman for two terms...
, Holmes Conrad
Holmes Conrad
Holmes Conrad was an American politician, lawyer and military officer.-Early life:Conrad was born in Winchester, Virginia. He was the son of Robert Young Conrad, a prominent lawyer of Winchester, and state attorney general from 1857 to 1862; his mother was Elizabeth Whiting, daughter of Burr Powell...
, Frank V. Winston, S. Ferguson Beach, John H. Fulton, Charles A. Graves
Charles A. Graves
Charles Alfred Graves was a legal scholar and law professor, who taught at the law schools of Washington and Lee University School of Law and the University of Virginia....
, Richard B. Tunstall, James C. Lamb, Charles M. Blackford
Charles Minor Blackford
Charles Minor Blackford was a Virginia lawyer and an author of American Civil War stories. His wartime correspondence with his wife, since published, remains a valuable resource for facts about life in the Confederate Army...
, William J. Leake
William J. Leake
William Josiah Leake was a Virginia lawyer and judge, who served as a railroad president and president of The Virginia Bar Association.Leake was a great-grandson of William O. Callis....
, Thomas S. Martin
Thomas S. Martin
Thomas Staples Martin was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Charlottesville, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the United States Senate for nearly twenty-five years....
, Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton (Virginia)
Alexander Hamilton was a railroad lawyer and businessman, who served as a president of The Virginia Bar Association, and as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901.-References:...
, James E. Heath, Micajah Woods
Micajah Woods
Micajah Woods Micajah Woods Micajah Woods (May 17, 1844 - March 14, 1911] was a Virginia lawyer, who served as the Commonwealth's Attorney in Charlottesville, Virginia for 41 years, and was a president of The Virginia Bar Association....
, George M. Harrison
George Moffett Harrison
George Moffett Harrison was born at Staunton, Virginia. He received his early education from his father. When he was sixteen, the war began and he enlisted in the Confederate Army. He served in the army during the entire war and returned home in 1865...
, F.H. McGuire, and such other persons as are now associated with them in the unincorporated society known as the Virginia State Bar Association, or as may be hereafter associated with them under this charter, be, and they are hereby, incorporated under the corporate name of 'The Virginia State Bar Association,' for the purpose of cultivating and advancing the science of jurisprudence, facilitating the administration of justice in this State, and upholding and elevating the standard of honor, integrity, and courtesy in the legal profession."
In 1938, after the Virginia State Bar
Virginia State Bar
Created in 1938, The Virginia State Bar is the administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia whose purpose is to regulate, improve and advance the legal profession in Virginia. The Bar was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly and is delegated the power to issue...
was created as a state-controlled regulatory association, the name of the older organization was changed to the current Virginia Bar Association.